With its history of voodoo, slavery and yellow fever, New Orleans is naturally creepy – many haunted sites can be found within its historic French Quarter.
One of the more well-known mansions is LaLaurie Mansion. Allegedly occupied by Madame Delphine and her slaves who tortured captives there. Additionally, reported paranormal activity included books moving on their own and alarms sounding inside.
Ursuline Convent
This haunted old convent has long been at the heart of New Orleans ghost and vampire stories. Built by courageous sisters who came to America during the 1700s to establish themselves as self-governing Catholic nuns.
Madame Delphine LaLaurie’s abuse of her slaves at her mansion is said to be the cause of its hauntedness in New Orleans; those whose lives were taken at her hands have reportedly haunted the house until today. Their haunted souls continue to roam freely within it today.
But the true mystery at Ursuline Convent was what lay inside those casket-shaped suitcases brought by “casket girls.” After their arrival, mortality rates in New Orleans suddenly skyrocketed and people began to speculate that perhaps these girls had brought with them undead vampires who were preying upon residents there. Once inside their rooms, however, when nuns attempted to retrieve these cases later on – only for them to find they were empty!
Bourbon Orleans Hotel
The Bourbon Orleans Hotel is an exquisite luxury hotel with an eerie past. Once used as a theater and then an orphanage for African-American girls, its building was later hit by Yellow Fever epidemic that claimed many children and nuns’ lives – ghosts from this time can still be seen haunting its corridors today.
An apparition of a young girl has been seen floating through the hallways and even conversing with guests, while another spirit may reside in the Orleans Ballroom; some believe she may be related to quadroon balls of old French Quarter.
At The Bourbon Orleans Hotel in the French Quarter, guests have reported feeling their shirt being tugged backwards, items moving by themselves, a Confederate soldier spotted near a nun, and even an invisible ghost dancer have all been witnessed by guests. Situated right near Bourbon Street and Royal Street galleries for convenient access, The Bourbon Orleans Hotel also provides guests with easy access to local businesses offering spirits removal.
734 Royal Street
The first floor bar and courtyard are haunted by three ghostly spirits with mischievous intentions. Francis, a small girl known to throw glasses and slam doors. She even grabs food out of patron’s hands! Another ghost seen roaming is that of an angry lawyer seen staring out the windows staring intently as people go about their business; perhaps this spirit represents someone who lost an appeal before the Supreme Court during 1950s?
This tranquil garden was once home to many duels between men, where sensitives have reported feeling an air of smoke present here.
In the late 1700s, Catholic girls from convents came to New Orleans in search of husbands. These women brought their belongings in caskets that became known as Casket Girls. Local folklore claims that if you write your love problem on yellow paper and leave it outside this house with Julie, she will help solve it for you.
Hotel St. Pierre
Hotel St. Pierre stands on the corner of Burgundy and Dumaine streets, boasting a longstanding tradition of ghost sightings and other paranormal activity. Combining old New Orleans charm with contemporary aesthetics, many famous people such as Jazz musician Louis Armstrong and Southern writer Tennessee Williams have stayed there over time.
Room 21 is said to be haunted by Marie Gleises, a child who died during a Yellow Fever epidemic and can sometimes be heard crying throughout the hotel and even seen in mirrors. Both guests and staff have reported hearing her cries throughout its walls and seeing her reflection in mirrors.
It comes as no surprise that this hotel served as a military hospital during the American Civil War, making it one of New Orleans’s most haunted places. Guests have reported hearing wails of wounded soldiers and even seeing blood appear on clean bedding! Specifically Building Five has proven especially active when it comes to paranormal activity: soldiers have been seen walking down hallways with swords drawn battling each other with them!
