New Orleans is notably one of the most haunted cities in the United States, but what makes it so haunted? While everyone else may experience a bump in the night every once in a while, New Orleans has an ongoing experience. New Orleans is filled with supernatural things, from ghosts to voodoo to even vampires. If you take one of the New Orleans haunted tours, you can see all the historical landmarks that are guaranteed to frighten you. So, what makes New Orleans so haunted? Below, we will dive into the many factors that make News Orleans one of America’s most haunted places to visit.
Saint Louis Cemetery
This cemetery is the oldest in New Orleans, and many people who have visited this site have had run-ins with ghosts. In just one block, this cemetery has been a site that has been named one of the most haunted cemeteries in the United States. This site is so haunted that famous writer Mark Twain nicknamed the cemetery “the Cities of the Dead.” One of the most famous ghosts to haunt the area is Marie Laveau, also known as the Voodoo Queen. It is said that if three Xs are left at her tomb, she will grant a wish, but you must return to the gravesite and leave her a gift. Unfortunately, this led to much vandalism, and the area is only accessible by professional ghost tours.
Lafitte’s Black Smith Shop
Located on the corner of Bourbon and St. Phillip is one of the oldest buildings in New Orleans. Look into Lafitte’s Black Smith Shop if you want a good scare. Notorious smugglers used this building as a base of operations, and it was even a notable place from the War of 1812. It is rumored that a woman upstairs took her own life, and you can still see her apparition walking upstairs. At times, this woman has been known to cozy up to patrons and even whisper in their ears. On the first floor is one of the terrifying experiences you can have at this establishment. There is said to be a pair of glowing red eyes that stare out of the unlit corners of the room. It’s said that you begin to see them from the corner of your eye, and then once you lock onto them, they fade away. While this seems like the scariest New Orleans has to offer, more is yet to come.
LaLaurie Mansion
Nothing is quite as terrifying in New Orleans as the LaLaurie Mansion. Filled with a dark history, this is the place to be if you want to witness the best in paranormal activity. The homeowner, Madame Delphine, is known as the “cruel mistress of the haunted house.” Madame Delphine grew up sweet and innocent but would go down in history as a monster. There were rumors about her first two husbands dying of strange causes before finally marrying her third. It was said that Madame Delphine had become a very abusive person to her helpers and her daughters. In 1834, the mansion was set ablaze when the truth came out. It was then that the horrific living conditions were exposed, and rumor has it that it was someone in the house who set the fire to expose these conditions to the public. There was a report of a mysterious death in the home after it was later turned into an apartment complex. Soon after when it was converted into an all girl’s school, there were reports of physical assaults from the paranormal and sightings of the spirits who had once lived there.
