There is no doubt that if your looking for ghosts in New Orleans, the LaLaurie Mansion is the first stop on your tour. There is not an evening on the busy streets of New Orleans where you won’t see a tour guide standing outside the old building speaking of the sinister experiments that occurred within the home. In fact, the history is so horrific that many of the tales inspired the television series American Horror Story: Coven. But what is it about the LaLaurie Mansion that makes this place so haunted and who were the people who inflicted such evil?
Madame LaLaurie
Madame LaLaurie (originally Marie Delphine Macarty) was born on March 19, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was a member of a strong and wealthy family whom originally immigrated from Ireland. Both her parents were proud members of the white Creole community in the historic French Quarter. Over time the heritage of the family caught the eye of a man named Don Ramon de Lopez y Angullo, a high ranking Spanish officer who wed the young Marie Macarty with plans to take her away to Spain. Sadly only a few years after marriage, during a local trip to Cuba, Don Ramon fell ill and died in Havana. Marie returned to New Orleans.
Years later Marie caught they eye of Jean Blanque, another local businessman who held many roles within town, from banker to lawyer. Rumor says that Blanque also held roles in the then active slave trade and was cursed by voodoo practitioners. Only eight years into their marriage Blanque died in 1816. Similarly to her first husband, the cause of death is mysteriously unknown. We should note that in 1811, it was believed that both Marie’s parents were killed in a slave uprising.
Regardless, in 1825 Marie married once more to Leonard Louis Nicolas LaLaurie, a doctor who made a fortune helping clients. Some stories have him as a chiropractor, while others say he was a dentist. Marie and her new french husband were a seemingly happy couple, purchasing property at 1140 Royal Street. The couple and children (some from her previous marraiges) lived in a three-story mansion complete with slave quarters attached to the top.
Things take a turn for the worse
By 1833, Marie and her husband were having difficulties. Neighbors would constantly hear the couple fighting. It was known that Marie had a temper and constantly hurt and scolded both her slaves and daughters. One incident in 1833 involved a young African American girl who out of fear ran to the roof of the building. Rather than face the torture of her owner, the young girl leapt to her death. The incident caused a spotlight on the family. After investigations were performed, they were forced to relinquish ownership of the slaves due to inappropriate and cruel conditions. Sadly, the family raised the funds to re-purchase the slaves back into the house the evil.
On the morning of April 10, 1834, a fire broke out at the luxurious house owned by Delphine LaLaurie. The fire not only destroyed part of the house, it also brought to light seven slaves who were starved, tortured and chained in the upper part of the building. One of the slaves stated that she started the fire to commit suicide rather than be brought to the attic where the true horrors were.
The poor souls found upstairs had inexplicable torturous acts performed on them. Some were hung and others stretched to death. Many had on spike collars and/or were missing limbs. Eyes were carved out and ears ripped off. Many had broken bones so they couldn’t walk. Others had holes drilled into their heads with metal pieces sticking in. They were covered in insects, dirt, and thier own blood. One slave was said to have had their intestines removed from her body and wrapped around her waist. The lucky ones were dead.
Hundreds of spectators looked on as the fire was put out and slaves brought out in mangled conditions. Growing angry the crowd seeked vengeance on Marie for the harm she has done. As Marie escaped the fray, townsfolk stormed the house and stole the valuables and destroyed many of the walls.
After that day, the Lalaurie’s were never seen again. Leonard was never heard from again and his death whereabouts are unknown. It was said that Marie escaped to Paris where she died in December 7, 1842. A copper plated tomb was found in the local St Louis Cemetery.
The house was repaired and sold from owner to owner, included Nicholas Cage who owned the estate for a short period of time. Ghosts are seen all around the house, assumed to be the lost souls of slaves who perished while under the dreaded ownership of the Lalaurie’s.
Subscribe Now for more Legends Each Week!
Try to Scare me is NOT intended as a guide to trespassing. We present these sites, locations and stories as local unwritten history and the legends surrounding it that are told to us while traveling. Although we provide locations, and some directions, these articles are intended to be read with the knowledge that some places cannot be visited. We do not encourage trespassing onto private property and do not encourage trespassing to obtain articles, videos, pictures and other evidence to be submitted. Trespassing is illegal and those who disregard this advice will (in most cases) be arrested and charged.