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The history of New Orleans is deeply intertwined with the shores of Lake Pontchartrain—a history steeped in blood for nearly three centuries. Originally established as a French penal colony, the city has retained a connection to its dark origins. Christianity was introduced by settlers, while enslaved people brought voodoo traditions. The clash of these beliefs shaped much of the city's vibrant culture. Ravaged by time and natural disasters, modern New Orleans is a faint echo of its past, and as shadows often are, it harbors an air of mystery and darkness. Here are ten of its most chilling features:
10. Above-Ground Burial Grounds
In a city forged through conflict and sustained by turmoil, it’s no wonder that the cemeteries of New Orleans rank among its top tourist draws. Yet, the pressing question lingers: Why don’t they inter their deceased underground?
Given that parts of New Orleans lie seven feet below sea level, the high water table is thought to cause bodies to resurface if buried underground. Since the notion of a deceased relative emerging from the earth tends to unsettle most individuals, above-ground tombs are utilized to inter the dead. These ornate crypts, often costing thousands, are reused multiple times; the remains of previous occupants are simply moved to a pit at the rear.
9. Jazz Funerals
From the 1700s until 1905, Yellow Fever ravaged New Orleans. Early superstitions claimed that spirits rising from graves in search of their homes were the main carriers of the disease. To prevent these spirits from finding their way back, a practice known as “Confusing the Spirits” was employed.
The deceased’s coffin would be loaded onto a carriage and taken on a meandering route to a cemetery on the city’s outskirts. A funeral procession would trail behind, clanging pots and noisemakers to disorient the spirits. In an unusual turn of events, this superstitious ritual eventually gave rise to the modern “Jazz Funeral.” Only in New Orleans could a plague inspire a celebration, adding the “fun” to funeral.
8. Deadly Real Estate
Known as 'The Most Haunted Place in the French Quarter,' the LaLaurie Mansion has changed hands numerous times over nearly two centuries. Notable owners have included Anne Rice and Nicolas Cage, but the most notorious resident was Delphine LaLaurie herself.
Delphine was a high-society figure in early 19th-century New Orleans. Known for hosting lavish parties, she had a peculiar habit of disappearing for an hour during these events, only to reappear in a new dress. At the time, this was viewed as a flaunting of her wealth, given the expense of clothing. Unbeknownst to her guests, the real reason for her wardrobe changes was far more sinister.
On April 10, 1834, during one of Delphine’s grand gatherings, a fire erupted in the kitchen of her Royal Street home. Firefighters discovered a slave chained to the stove by her ankle. The woman later admitted to starting the fire in a desperate bid to end her life, terrified of being taken to the room above the kitchen. She revealed, 'Anyone taken there never returned.'
Upon investigating the room, rescuers uncovered Delphine LaLaurie’s chamber of horrors. Inside, they encountered the mutilated remains of enslaved individuals—some alive, others dead. The space was filled with evidence of failed gender reassignment surgeries, grotesque amputations, and other horrifying medical experiments.
News of the atrocities spread rapidly, prompting an angry mob to gather outside the LaLaurie Mansion. However, before the crowd could deliver justice, a stagecoach arrived and whisked Delphine away. New Orleans’ most infamous serial killer vanished into the night, never to reappear.
7. Voodoo and Louis Armstrong
Originally known as 'Place Publique,' the park was a popular gathering spot for people of color during the French and Spanish colonial eras. Following the American Revolution, the park was occasionally rented to the Congo Circus, leading to its renaming as 'Congo Square.'
During the regular gatherings of enslaved people in Congo Square, voodoo rituals were frequently conducted to invoke love, fertility—and occasionally, death. In its prime, the renowned priestess Marie Laveau often visited Congo Square, where fortunate spectators could observe her dancing with her serpent. Today, Congo Square remains a part of Louis Armstrong Park, hosting the annual Jazz Fest. Voodoo practitioners still regard the park as sacred, believing Congo Square to be overflowing with spiritual power.
6. XXX Marks The Spot
For those unafraid to connect with the deceased, leaving an offering at the tomb of a voodoo priestess can turn dreams into reality. Situated in the most haunted cemetery in the U.S., Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1, lies the resting place of Marie Laveau. Here, devotees can leave gifts and mark three X’s on her tomb, hoping the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans will grant their wishes.
5. Tomb Raiders
Eerily, a visit to Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1 reveals that many tombs have been breached. Grave robbery is not uncommon in New Orleans—and with voodoo being a long-standing dark art, one can only hope that the intruders were merely after grandma’s jewelry.
4. Exotic Murders
As if the cemeteries of New Orleans weren’t already filled with local victims, the city seems open to adding outsiders to the mix. The Gardette-Laprete House at 716 Dauphine Street, constructed in 1836, was leased in 1937 to a young Turkish man who styled himself as a Sultan. He maintained a large harem in the residence, along with his family and a group of eunuch servants.
The Sultan was an intensely private individual, rarely drawing attention from his neighbors on Dauphine Street. That changed abruptly when a pool of blood was seen seeping from beneath his front door.
Upon investigation, police discovered the entire household and entourage had been slaughtered. The scene was so gruesome that authorities had to count heads to determine the number of victims. The Sultan was found buried alive in the backyard. The case remains unsolved, and some locals claim the property is haunted, with the victims’ screams still echoing.
3. Even Katrina Couldn’t Erase Some Stains
In 1994, New Orleans recorded 421 murders, equating to 85.8 per 100,000 people—a homicide record unmatched by any other major U.S. city. Over the past decade, the city has averaged 56 murders per 100,000 people, nearly ten times the national average. Although New Orleans dropped to third on America’s Deadliest Cities list in 2012, having held the top spot for eleven of the previous twelve years, it’s only a matter of time before it reclaims its title as the Murder Capital of America.
2. Katrina’s Victims
New Orleans’ levees were built to endure Category 3 hurricanes, but Katrina escalated to a Category 5, with wind speeds hitting 175 miles (280 km) per hour. Unprepared for such force, the levees failed at fifty-three points. Approximately eighty percent of the city was submerged, with water depths reaching nearly twenty feet (6 meters) in some areas. The hurricane claimed 1,836 lives, 1,577 of which were in Louisiana. Over seven hundred individuals remain missing to this day due to the disaster.
1. Even Dogs Aren’t Safe In New Orleans
On January 26, 2013, a Secret Service K9 plunged to its death from the top of a six-story parking garage. The dog lost its life while on duty, safeguarding Vice President Joe Biden during his visit to New Orleans. The incident occurred near the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where Biden was attending a fundraiser. The dog seemingly leaped from the garage roof without warning, leaving many to wonder what unseen forces might have been at work—and what actions by Biden could have provoked them.
