The Haunted History of New Orleans
photo taken from nsela.org
New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and one of the largest port cities in the United States. The city of New Orleans has long been believed to be the most haunted city in America as well. The area of New Orleans has been populated for over 300 years, made up of people from many backgrounds. Most of these groups all experienced significant changes in their lives while living in the Crescent City. The changes in history of New Orleans dates back to 1762, when the French Colony went under Spanish possession.
Then in 1800, the French then retook the territory. The United States took control in 1803 as a result of the Louisiana Purchase. Wars would be fought on the land, including that of the War of 1812, and the United States Civil War. Yellow fever ran rampant during the 1840s and 1850s, and fires destroyed large parts of the city in the years of 1788 and 1794. There were also many natural disasters that included hurricanes and major floods. The most recent natural disaster in New Orleans history was the cataclysmic event of Hurricane Katrina, which occurred in August of 2005.
As a result of this horrific disaster, more ghosts have come to the city of New Orleans. The emotions felt by the people and those who did not make it will never be able to leave the spot where they met their fate. While rescue workers were searching for injured people in wake of the destruction, they would report seeing lights on in buildings without electricity, and hearing the sound of footsteps and doors closing in buildings that were abandoned. There are countless hotels, restaurants, plantations, neighborhoods, slave quarters, and cemeteries in New Orleans that have a haunted history.
The spirits of these ghosts, as with ghosts anywhere, are often due to violent or premature deaths. The energy and emotion that went with the fateful events never leave that area, staying in it for all eternity. It just so happens to be that New Orleans has been the site of many horrific events, criminal activity, and social injustice. These ghosts have unfinished business to take care of which is why they cannot leave. They roam amongst the streets of New Orleans, walking side by side with the citizens and tourists. One may never know what to expect while visiting the historic Crescent City, making it one of the most haunted city’s in the United States of America.
Check out our Haunted New Orleans category to see our articles on this area.
(Source: Dwyer, Jeff. Ghost Hunter’s Guide to New Orleans. 2007.)
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