Although Halloween is over, it’s always a great time to visit one of USA Today’s most haunted cities in America. That’s right, we’re talking about New Orleans.
Ours is a city with a haunted past, with cemeteries scattered throughout every neighborhood, and every tomb sitting above ground. Having experienced a few hauntings within the Hotel Monteleone’s walls ourselves, we’re taking the time to share a few of our favorite New Orleans ghost stories:
Madame LaLaurie’s Mansion
Perhaps one of the most well known ghostly tales of the city, the story of Madame LaLaurie is not one that sits easy.
Dating back to the early 1830’s, the story tells of the LaLaurie family, living at 1140 Royal Street. Within the mansion walls, Madame LaLaurie, a regarded socialite, secretly trapped dozens of slaves, torturing them however she saw fit.
Eventually, after a fire was started within the home, her crimes were discovered, and Madame LaLaurie and her family escaped, never to be seen again. However, many claim the house has been haunted in the years since their disappearance.
The LaLaurie mansion still sits at the corner of Royal and Governor Nicholls Street today, and is one of the most visited haunted attractions in New Orleans.
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
Known as being one of the most haunted cemeteries in the U.S., St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is located only blocks from Hotel Monteleone.
While the cemetery features a vast stretch of various tombs and graves, the most famous resident is the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Marie Laveau. Visitors of the cemetery claim to have spotted her soul wandering between the tombs, mumbling Voodoo curses to trespassers.
Still today, Voodoo believers will visit her tomb, hoping to be blessed by her supernatural powers.
Hotel Monteleone
We couldn’t leave out our very own favorite ghost story. Numerous spirits are said to haunt the historic halls of Hotel Monteleone.
AÂ few years back, we even had a visit from the International Society of Paranormal Research, who identified a few spirits while they were here, including “Red”, our faithful engineer, William Wilderner, a forever guest of the hotel, and a ten-year-old boy who likes to play in the hallways.
All spirits at the Hotel Monteleone are very friendly, and most of our guests have never experienced a chance run-in.
Other Haunted New Orleans Attractions
- Brennan’s Restaurant
- Muriel’s Restaurant
- Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre
- Miss Celie’s Spa Orleans
- Voodoo Cemetery Gates of Guinee
- Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
- Metairie Lakelawn Cemetery
- Chalmette Battlefield
- Marie Laveau’s House
- La Pavilion Hotel
- St. Roch Cemetery
Haunted tours of the French Quarter are also available year-round, within walking distance from the hotel. French Quarter Phantoms Ghost Tours and Haunted History Tours both offer a variety of themed walking tours, including cemetery tours and ghost tours.
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