Visiting the French Quarter while in New Orleans is basically a given. There is no need trying to convince you to do so. It is also widely known that New Orleans is considered one of the most haunted cities in the United States if not the world. Therefore, is there a better way to experience the French Quarter than taking a ghost tour?

In this post, I will discuss the ghost tour I picked, some of the spooky history I learned, and why I think it’s an interesting way for you to experience the French Quarter.

I am going to warn you now that this post contains some pretty creepy content that might make your skin crawl or haunt your dreams. Reader discretion is advised. For those of you brave enough to continue, let’s get started!

French Quarter Ghost & Legends by Haunted History Tours

For my tour, I chose a company called Haunted History Tours. Their website states they are the original ghost tour company with 27 years of experience. The website further indicates the company has been featured on several TV networks such as A&E, Discovery Channel, History Channel, and given the nod as best New Orleans tour by the Travel Channel.

Our guide for the French Quarter Ghosts & Legends tour was Lacy. I found her to be engaging and entertaining. I spoke with Lacy for a few minutes prior to the tour starting. She said that all guides at Haunted History Tours are required to read up on French Quarter history and take a test on this knowledge. They pride themselves on accurate and engaging storytelling without any gimmicks.

What Makes the French Quarter So Haunted?

As stated above, New Orleans is known for its reports of haunted encounters through the centuries. Its dead outnumber the living 10 to 1. The above-ground cemeteries are actually referred to as Cities of the Dead. Diseases such as yellow fever and cholera have ravaged the city over the centuries leaving countless victims. Natural disasters have further wreaked havoc.

The French Quarter specifically has a reputation for being haunted. It is the original and oldest part of the city. Many of its early inhabitants buried their dead on house premises. Additionally, the French Quarter’s association with voodoo, mysticism, and cultural practices that blend African, European, and indigenous traditions contributes to its haunting allure.

Put all of this together and you can understand why there are numerous places in the French Quarter famous for hauntings. Our tour stopped by several of these places and I will discuss three of them I found most chilling.

The Andrew Jackson Hotel

One of our first stops was at the Andrew Jackson Hotel. The site of the hotel was once a boarding school and orphanage for boys who lost their parents to yellow fever. However, it tragically burned down killing five boys. It then became a U.S. courthouse where then-General Jackson was tried for contempt of court (and presumably how the hotel got its name). It became the hotel it is now in 1890.

According to Lacy, Andrew Jackson himself is not believed to haunt the hotel. This makes sense as Jackson only spent a small period of his life in the city during the Battle of New Orleans. This French Quarter hotel is believed to be haunted by several spirits though.

Guests of the hotel report hearing the footsteps of boys laughing and playing throughout the hotel and in the courtyard only to find no children present. It is speculated these boys were the victims of the boarding school and orphanage fire.

Another spectral encounter is that of a 9-year old boy known as Armand who haunts Room 208. Guests of this room report experiencing cold spots and feelings of being watched. It is also common for the TV to turn on by itself with the volume blaring. Guests have even claimed to have seen apparitions.

One thought stuck in my mind after moving on from the Andrew Jackson Hotel. Please, please, please say the hotel I was staying at is not on this tour! I legit would find a new place to stay. I don’t have time for dealing with ghosts. (Spoiler alert: My hotel was not on the tour and I was unaware of any phantoms present).

The LaLaurie Mansion

By far the most disturbing stop on the tour is the LaLaurie Mansion. For those fellow American Horror Story fans, the name Delphine LaLaurie will ring a bell. She is highlighted in Season 3: Coven. Okay, so saying I am an AHS fan is a bit misleading. I made it about 15 minutes into the 1st episode of the 1st season before saying “nah, I’m out.” Call me chicken if you want!

As a socialite in the early 19th century, Madame Delphine maintained a facade of respectability while hiding a sinister secret: her brutal mistreatment of slaves. It is believed she would actually disappear from her lavish parties to experiment and torture the enslaved people in her house. She would then change into a new dress only to return to the party as if nothing happened.

The masquerade ended when a fire broke out in the LaLaurie mansion in 1834. Responders discovered a chamber of torture in the attic, where slaves were found mutilated and subjected to unimaginable cruelty.

This revelation shocked the community. However, Delphine never faced justice. Instead, she fled to Paris where she later died. According to Lacy, it is estimated Delphine LaLaurie experimented on, tortured, and killed 73 enslaved people.

And what about those dresses? It is alleged that a subsequent owner of the mansion found dozens of blood-stained party dresses underneath the floorboards along with the remains of 12 of her victims who may have been put there alive.

All this evil has led the LaLaurie Mansion to be considered one of the most haunted places in the city. The mansion itself is quite beautiful. There is an unwholesome presence about it somehow though.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar

I was particularly interested in this stop on the tour. Originally built in the early 18th century, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar is believed to be one of the oldest buildings used as a bar in the United States.

The bar is named after the pirate-turned Battle of New Orleans hero-turned pirate again, Jean Lafitte, who allegedly used the site as a front for his smuggling operations. However, much like Lafitte himself, the history of the bar is subject to much debate.

What’s not up for debate is what you’ll find inside. With its dimly lit interior, flickering candlelight, and rustic decor, stepping into Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar feels like a step back in time. And, according to legend, the watchful red eyes of Jean Lafitte himself appear from the fireplace protecting what was his gold cache.

I was not lucky (or lucky) enough to catch a glimpse of Jean Lafitte’s apparition. But maybe that was because I didn’t have enough of their famous purple drinks!

Why You Should Take a Ghost Tour of the French Quarter

I highly recommend taking a ghost tour of the French Quarter. Take the tour at dusk and feel the foreboding rise as the sun sets. You will get to learn about the people and places of this historic area with an eerie twist. You can bring an adult beverage along if you are so inclined. You’ll also get quite a few steps in as well!

Consider one of the several tours offered by Haunted History Tours. To me, good storytelling is what makes a ghost story. I found Lacy to be a good storyteller. And let’s be honest. There were a few times that a jump scare would have had me joining the ranks of the dead.

I am still not sure what to think about ghosts. It’s one of those “I can’t prove that they are not real” type of things. One thing I am sure of is you will not catch me staying in Room 208 of the Andrew Jackson Hotel!

Have you ever experienced a haunting or been on a ghost tour? Let me know about your experience in the comments below!

And for more ideas on your Big Easy trip, check out 5 Things History To Do in New Orleans.