As you may have heard, New Orleans is one of America’s premier towns for ghost stories and haunted locales. A lot of those stories have some truth behind them. Some of the things that you can read about New Orleans on the internet will give you goosebumps and may make you want to visit these haunted places. Below you will find some places you may (or may not!) want to visit.
The Haunted LaLaurie Mansion
Have you heard of the Haunted LaLaurie Mansion before? According to New Orleans Native Tours, which offers haunted tours in New Orleans, it is one of the go-to places in the city for haunted trips. It was the home of Madame LaLaurie, who kept many servants chained and locked away in the house. This was discovered after a fire in 1834.
LaLaurie Mansion Facts
- The fire in 1834 was rumored to be started by a servant.
- Madame LaLaurie had two husbands die mysteriously.
- Madame LaLaurie’s third husband was nowhere to be found when the fire broke out.
There is a lot more to the story. She was known as a very mean woman who was hurtful to children. Horrible stories have been told. There are several accounts of unexplainable things happening at the mansion.
If you are interested in reading more, you can check out the story of the LaLaurie Mansion at Nola.com.
The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
Did you know that the first pharmacist with an actual license for handling pharmaceuticals worked at this pharmacy? That doesn’t sound very scary at all. But what is really creepy is that he used to perform surgeries on women for exploring purposes related to science.
Things You Can See at This Museum
- All the medical instruments that were used for the pharmacist’s surgical purposes.
- Possibly the pharmacist ghost that likes to haunt the third floor. Beware!
You can find more information on this museum at the Pharmacy Museum website.
The St. Louis Cemetery
We all know that cemeteries are creepy by themselves, but how about a haunted one? Some seem peaceful, but others, like the St.Louis Cemetery, are another story. It was established in the late 1700s and is the oldest cemetery in all of New Orleans.
Things to Know About the St. Louis Cemetery
- It was established in the 1700s and is still in use today.
- The earliest bodies were buried all over the place, some in a haphazard manner.
- It is very disorganized and difficult to walk through due to the maze of tombs.
- It is located in a swamp and is prone to flooding. (Do you know what happens when a cemetery floods? Let’s just say that the coffins do not stay put.)
You can find more information about the St. Louis Cemetery at Save Our Cemeteries. There, you can learn more about why it was such a dangerous place to visit and why it is now open…and haunted.
The Sultan’s Palace
This building’s official name is The Gardette Le Prete House. There is a story that a mass killing took place here sometime during the 1800s. According to the rumors, no one knew of the mass killing until blood was seen pouring out from underneath the door.
Things to Remember About the Sultan’s Palace
- It was a party home for a Turkish sultan.
- According to the legend, the sultan and his harem were murdered by an unknown group of people.
- The sultan’s brother was supposedly buried alive in the backyard.
- The house is on the market but remains unsold. (Are you interested in a new home? I hear it is roomy. Maybe it can’t be sold due to the unwanted guests…)
You can find the full story of the Sultan’s Palace at Curbed.
The Omni Royal Orleans
This active hotel is known for its antique decor and has a rich history of old buildings that have stood in its spot, which has led to many guest stories about ghosts and other creepy happenings.
Information About the Omni Royal Orleans
- One of the former uses of the site was a slave market.
- In the 1800s, the hotel was known as the St. Louis and was one of the fanciest in the city.
- The rumored ghost sightings include a maid who died in a hurricane in 1915.
You can read about the haunted history of the Omni Royal Orleans at Blouin Art Info.
Hopefully, you have found the perfect place that you want to visit while in New Orleans. Or better yet, the place you want to avoid! If you are interested in more information about the haunting of New Orleans and the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina, you can watch this YouTube video.