Famously known for its mystical history, New Orleans has earned a reputation of being the most haunted city in the country. Haunted places in New Orleans have become some of the most popular tourist attractions, as visitors seek to meet the spooky spirits and experience the eerie haunts that the city is now known for.
From historic hotels in the French Quarter to centuries-old bars that welcomed some of the city's most famous residents, these haunted places in New Orleans, Louisiana are going to leave you with lingering memories of the spirit world that might just live on in the Big Easy.
1. The Hotel Monteleone
- Address: 214 Royal Street
- Best Known For: Being the eternal home of Maurice Beger, a child spirit who haunts the hotel.
Considered to be one of the most haunted places in New Orleans, the Hotel Monteleone has been welcoming guests seeking luxury and comfort in the city's French Quarter since 1886. Today's visitors love indulging in a swim in the pool on the rooftop, but they also may find that their stay includes a visit from the hotel's everlasting residents.
As the story goes, the 13th floor of the hotel (which is actually the 14th floor) is haunted by the ghost of Maurice Beger, a young child who tragically died of a fever while in the care of a nanny. His parents had been attending the opera that evening and they were distraught to return to the news that their young son had died. Today, guests have claimed that they have heard the footsteps of young Maurice toddling down the hallway, possibly looking to comfort his heartbroken mother.
2. LaLaurie Mansion
- Address: 1140 Royal Street
- Best Known For: Its gruesome history and the tragic death of slaves, many of whom continue to haunt the mansion to this day.
Upon arrival at the LaLaurie Mansion in the French Quarter, you may be taken with the beauty and grandeur of this iconic home. However, the exterior charm of the mansion hides its gruesome past, when it was owned by a slave-holding family who brutally mistreated the humans they kept in bondage. It is said that the ghosts of those enslaved people continue to haunt the home to this day, but most visitors will never have the opportunity to experience their hauntings. The home is privately owned and tours are not available.
3. Bourbon Orleans Hotel
- Address: 717 Orleans Street
- Best Known For: Its lonely ghost that continues to enjoy a ballroom dance underneath the sparkling chandeliers.
Situated in the heart of the French Quarter, the Bourbon Orleans Hotel continues to embody the spirit of charm and hospitality that has long rung true in New Orleans. While it continues to welcome guests seeking luxury and beauty, it was once considered the best place to see and be seen in the 19th century. The Bourbon Orleans Hotel was famously home to the Quadroon Balls, which were elegant social affairs designed for biracial women to make matches with wealthy white landowners in the city. Many guests have said that they still see one lonely dancer twirling and swaying underneath the chandelier, hoping to meet her match.
4. Old Absinthe House
- Address: 240 Bourbon Street
- Best Known For: Being the best watering hole in New Orleans for more than 200 years, often inviting back the spirits who once used to enjoy their favorite beverages there.
Considered not only to be one of the oldest and most iconic landmarks in the French Quarter but also one of the most haunted places in New Orleans, the Old Absinthe Bar has been inviting people to sit down and have a drink for more than 200 years. Tourists from around the world flock to the bar not only to drink where history has been made, but to possibly mix and mingle with the spirits from centuries past. It's been said that the ghosts of Andrew Jackson or Marie Laveau have frequented the bar, so don't be surprised if your glass is pushed away from you or the stool next to you topples over.
5. Le Petit Theatre
- Address: 616 St. Peter
- Best Known For: A ghostly apparition dressed in a wedding gown, who met an unfortunate demise when she died during a tragic accident at the theater.
Of all the haunted places in New Orleans Louisiana, there is none quite as eerie as the Le Petit Theatre. Built in 1916, the theater is not quite as old as some of the other haunted spots in the city, but it still hosts its fair share of ghosts. One of the most famous spirits who seems to eternally rest in the theater is a woman dressed in a bridal gown, who tragically fell to her death over the railing. There is debate whether her death was accidental or if she died by suicide, but either way, the spirit of the woman continues to live on in this ghostly playhouse.
6. Faulkner House Books
- Address: 624 Pirates Alley
- Best Known For: Being the former home of William Faulkner, the famed author whose spirit now occupies the building.
Today, Faulkner House Books is a treasured local bookstore that is loved by New Orleans residents and tourists alike. The bookstore is housed in the former home of William Faulkner, the famed American author, who penned his final novel in this very building. Bookstore employees as well as customers have felt the presence of Faulkner in the building and sometimes, you may even catch a whiff of his pipe.
7. Antoine's Restaurant
- Address: 713 St. Louis Street
- Best Known For: Being the oldest family-run restaurant in the country and also being the eternal home of the restaurant's founder's spirit.
Since 1840, Antoine's Restaurant has been welcoming guests to New Orleans by offering them the flavor and hospitality that the city is famous for. Having been in operation for nearly three centuries, the restaurant has become famous for being the oldest family-run restaurant in the United States.
The restaurant was founded by Antoine Alciator and it's said that he continues to frequent the establishment in spirit in order to make sure that his ancestors continue to do the job right. Some diners have noted that apparitions dressed in 19th century apparel appear throughout the restaurant.
8. The Andrew Jackson Hotel
- Address: 919 Royal Street
- Best Known For: Its interactive and playful spirits, many of whom are considered to be the young boys who once lived at the boarding house at this location.
The Andrew Jackson Hotel that exists today in the French Quarter rests on the site of a boarding school for young boys whose parents had perished during the Yellow Fever epidemic. Tragically, fire consumed the building, taking the lives of all the young boys who lived inside. Guests at the hotel often report encounters with trouble-making spirits, some of whom will push them out of their beds or move personal items to unexpected spots around the room.
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