Specters, apparitions, and many other ghostly figures are abound in the crescent city. New Orleans is a city with a mysterious past full of murders, suicides and plenty of voodoo.
Do you believe in ghosts? If not, then you should visit. It is said to be one of the most haunted cities in the world.
If you do believe in ghosts then beware! You are in for a truly hauntingly good time!
Historical Overview
New Orleans, Louisiana is a vibrant city with a rich and mysterious history.
This beautiful city is located on the Mississippi River 110 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain.
Some of the first inhabitants of New Orleans were criminals. When French prisons became overpopulated the King of France decided to send convicts (murderers, thieves and common criminals) to New Orleans to help with the building of the city.
New Orleans was named after the Duc d’ Orleans, the Regent of France under King Louis XV. The French translation of the name New Orleans is “Nouvelle- Orleans”.
New Orleans has always been referred to as a mysterious city. Its past is linked with many tragedies that have claimed numerous lives such as: fires epidemic’s and mass murders. It is no wonder that the city has an extremely active paranormal atmosphere in and around it.
Timeline of Major Events
1718- The city was founded and the plans for the French Quarter district were created. The plans were drawn up by Adrian de Pauger.
1788- The French Quarter district was ravaged by fire with over 800 structures being destroyed and numerous deaths.
1827- The first Mardi Gras celebration is held in New Orleans.
1803- The Louisiana Purchase is signed and Louisiana becomes a part of the United States.
1837- The first Mardi Gras parade in recorded history is held in New Orleans.
1852- New Orleans becomes the third largest city in the U.S.
1853- A Yellow Fever epidemic kills more than 8,000 New Orleans citizens.
1900- The population of New Orleans grows to approximately 287,104.
1958- The city hall is opened at 1300 Perdido Street.
1984- Louisiana World Exposition is held in New Orleans.
Haunted Hotels
Numerous hotels are said to have ghostly apparitions as permanent guests. Most of the hotels located in the city have had some type of tragedy occur in their past.
If you are planning to stay at a hotel and would enjoy the chance to have your own paranormal experience you might register at one of these haunted establishments.
The Place D’ Armes Hotel- One of the most haunted hotels in New Orleans. It is said to have been built on the site where a school house once stood. A major fire destroyed the school and many children and teachers were burned to death in the blaze. The hotel sports many ghosts one of which has been reported as being an elderly bearded man dressed in 1800’s attire. He is said to appear and nod to guests then vanish.
The French Quarter Courtyard Hotel- This hotel is located on Rampart and Ursuline. Several guests have reported a lively party taking place in the room next to theirs that was supposedly unoccupied. When hotel employees went to investigate they found no one in the room. It remains an unsolved mystery today.
The Le Pavillon Hotel- Located in downtown New Orleans historic district and adjacent to the famed French Quarter, this hotel offers easy access to some of the cities most popular places. But, BEWARE! Hidden by the luxurious décor are many tales of eerie occurrences and ghostly happenings. It is said that the entire cleaning staff refuses to go on a certain floor. There have been sightings of four ghosts at this hotel.
The Andrew Jackson Hotel- The hotel is located at 919 Royal Street. Legend has it that the site on which the hotel now sits was once the site of an all-boy’s school. The school was destroyed in the great fire of 1788. Five boys were said to have perished in the blaze. Guests report hearing boy’s playing and laughing in the courtyard. Other guests have reported sighting a ghostly figure resembling General Andrew Jackson walking through the hotel.
The Lafitte Guest House- This establishment is located at 1003 Bourbon Street. Legend has it that a mother and two of her children died in room 21. One of the children died in the Yellow Fever epidemic and the other hanged herself in the room. The mother grieved for the remainder of her life and died heart broken some years later. Guests and employees report crying coming from the room along with an intense feeling of despair.
New Orleans Ghosts
The Beauregard-Keyes House- Patrons to the museum have reported that after closing one evening they stayed to take photos of the house. When the photos were developed there were some mysterious unexplainable images in them. In the pictures there appears to be two civil war era soldiers standing in front of the window looking out. The guests were sure that no other people were in the museum at the time that the photos were taken. This former hotel was also the site of a mafia massacre. It is said that at times you can smell gunpowder and hear gunshots in the garden area of the hotel.
The Sultans Ghost-This ghost is one of New Orleans most famous ghosts. He is said to roam the halls of the four story house located at 716 Dauphine Street. The house is situated on the corner of Dauphine and Orleans Avenue. The Sultan was from Turkey. He rented the house from the owners, the La Prete family, for his large family and harem. It is said that he was a dangerous and cruel man who was not above kidnapping women off the streets of New Orleans and torturing them into submission and then adding them to his harem. One afternoon the Sultan met his fate in a cruel and hideous manner and so did everyone in his household. It has been recounted through the years what took place that afternoon as seen by a neighbor. The neighbor was strolling down the sidewalk beside the house when she noticed blood draining from the building. She immediately contacted the authorities who in turn broke down the door. Upon entering they discovered a gruesome scene. Body parts and blood were everywhere. Every member of the household had been murdered but the Sultan was no where to be found. Only later did they discover his body in a shallow grave behind the house. He had apparently been buried alive. No one was ever charged with these murders. Several different stories circulated for months after the murders but nothing was proved. It remains one of the city’s most intriguing mysteries. To this day it has never been solved.
The Ghost of Lucinda Randle- Lucinda Randles husband was the Reverend Howard Randle. He was an extremely adulterous man with no regard for his wife. He kept many mistresses to Lucinda’s despair. Everything she tried, to keep her husband faithful, failed. Her last resort was Voodoo. She visited the office of a local witch doctor and bought a potion that would make him impotent. The next morning she emptied the potion into his coffee. When he began to drink she became upset and confessed that she had poisoned him. After wailing and crying for some time, Howard was convinced that he was going to die shortly. Overwrought with guilt she fell to her knee’s and begged for him to kill her. She said that she could not bear to go on living without him and told him that at least they would be together in the afterlife. Believing that he would soon die he agreed to her request. They went out to the river and sat down on the bank. Lucinda laid her head in his lap with her face turned up so she could see him and then closed her eyes. Howard withdrew a knife from his pocket and slit her throat with it. Naturally, he did not die but he did spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder. Legend says that she still wanders at the rivers edge waiting for him to join her.
Other Ghostly Sightings
Bourbon Street- There has been reports, by several witnesses, of seeing a mob of ghostly apparitions engaged in a brawl in the middle of the street.
The LaMothe Hotel- Many guests have reported seeing the mysterious ghostly figure of a woman emerging from the closet of one of the rooms. She comes out of the closet and then vanishes.
Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre- Several theater patrons have reported seeing a young girl in a wedding gown standing on the second floor staring down at the courtyard. The girl apparently committed suicide from the second floor on her wedding day. People have also experienced cold spots in the courtyard. The apparition of an elderly man dressed in 1700’s attire has been sighted sitting in the theater reading a newspaper.
The Morgue Bar and Lounge- Located at 626 St. Phillip Street this site was built in 1849 and was originally used as the city’s first mortuary. The site is said to be haunted by the mortician’s daughter who was known to steal jewelry from the dead that were brought into the morgue. She is said to frequent the main bar area and also the ladies restrooms.
Pirates Alley- The ghost of Jean LaFitte, the famed pirate, is said to have been sighted several times in the early morning hours around 3:00am wandering in the alley.
The Fairview Hotel- Ghosts have been seen on several occasions wandering through the establishments’ hallways.
Voodoo and Black Magic
This unknown religion can be traced back to Africa before 1100 AD. It was first practiced in New Orleans in the early 1800’s. Voodoo is a religion based on one main god or deity and several demi-gods called Loas. The Loas are like saints in the catholic religion. Several tribes believe that the Loas have the ability to enter a worshipper’s body. This is seen as a very valuable experience towards warding off illness’s or bad luck. The very first Voodoo Queen in New Orleans was Sanite’ Dede. She had come to New Orleans from Santo Domingo. The priestess held rituals in her courtyard on Dumaine and Chartres Streets.
The ceremonies were loud and mysterious and the Catholic Church began to frown upon the practice of Voodoo within the city’s boundaries. It was decided that any religion other than the catholic religion was not aloud within the city’s limits. Indiviuals who broke the law were arrested and tried. This law was revoked in 1830. In the Voodoo religion animals were used quite frequently to cast spells or hexes. One of the most powerful animals to use in ceremonies was the black cat. Voodoo is still practiced by certain individuals in New Orleans today and still retains all of its mysticism as in centuries before.
Marie LaVeau
Marie LaVeau is considered by most the true Queen of Voodoo. Born in Haiti, her mother was a slave and her father was a wealthy French Plantation owner named Charles LaVeau. Marie was feared and respected by the people of New Orleans because her Voodoo knowledge was extensive. She died at the age of 98 in 1881 and is buried in the St. Louis Cemetery #1. This site is also said to be an extremely active paranormal site. Many people have claimed to hear a voice whispering to them at the grave site and numerous apparitions have appeared in photographs taken of the area.
Visit if You Dare!!!
A trip to New Orleans could be anything but boring. Just be sure to check the closets in your room when you check into your hotel. You never know who or what might be lurking in the shadows. Happy Haunting!