LaLaurie Mansion is a historical baroque-style building with a dark past that you can explore with a haunting ghost tour if you're feeling brave. You'll probably see this house if you spend any time in the French Quarter as it's one of the largest and gaudiest, though it's not particularly spooky from the exterior.
The tour here can be scary, as the house's backstory is notably dark, so take caution before taking younger kids to this attraction. Most people only spend about half an hour here because the interior of the house is privately owned, though travellers are free to examine the exterior and look through the windows.
LaLaurie Mansion - one of the highlights of 10 Best Things to Do in New Orleans and 10 Creepy Facts and Legends about New Orleans (Read all about New Orleans here)
photo by Reading Tom (CC BY 2.0) modified
LaLaurie Mansion highlights
One of the most haunting aspects of LaLaurie Mansion is its history. The name comes from a previous owner of the house, Delphine LaLaurie. This woman kept slaves in the house during the early 19th century.
LaLaurie's treatment of the slaves was notoriously cruel. It culminated when there was a fire at the house and she refused to provide the key to the slave quarters. Neighbors had to push past her and break down the door to get them out. A tour guide can tell you the grisly details of how the storey ends.
photo by Dropd (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified
Good to know when visiting LaLaurie Mansion
Before you head to LaLaurie Mansion, there are a few things you should keep in mind. This appears as a grand house, but it tends to blend in amongst the other architecture in the French Quarter. It is identifiable by a sign posted near the exterior corner.
Because it's a private residence, you can't actually go inside. To get the full experience, you'll want to book one of the local ghost tours that feature this mansion as a stop. The guide will be able to tell you all the details of what happened and its subsequent history of paranormal activity.
LaLaurie Mansion
Location: 1138 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
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