I recently visited New Orleans for the first time and was in absolute awe of the love the mystical world gets there. Most people know that it’s a town tightly associated with Voodoo and Wiccan practices, but some people are surprised to find that the city itself is also home to many haunted locations. Some even say it is the most haunted city in America.
I didn't have a lot of time to spend searching for ghosts on this trip due to other priorities, but I was able to explore one of the cities most haunted locations, St. Louis Cemetery. This place was established in 1789 and since then has become the final resting place of 100,000 people over its 200+ year existence including the Voodoo queen herself, Marie Leveau, who passed away in 1881. I did not have any personal experiences while there, but while on tour of the cemetery, a nice lady filled me in on local legends. She told me that this site is known for a substantial amount of paranormal activity. She went on to tell me about one apparition in particular who is notorious around the cemetery and well known among residents in the town. They call the ghost Henry. He is dressed in 1800’s sailor attire and wanders aimlessly throughout the cemetery, never interacting with anyone. She then told me of another spirit who does interact with the living. Instead of the sad feeling Henry gives off, this spirit is spunky and maybe a bit mischievous. Apparently, this particular ghost loves to engage with the living so be on your guard if you ever decide to visit.
I was sad that I did not get to explore more of New Orleans rich history of paranormal places; but sadly, time was limited and I was the less than intelligent planner who did not realize that I planned this trip during Mardi Gras. In case you were wondering; New Orleans is very crowded during Mardi Gras. If you do plan to visit New Orleans, check out places such as LaLaurie Mansion, Hotel Provincial, The Monteleone Hotel, and of course New Orleans Cemetery No.1. There are also many, many different ghost tours you can take to explore several sites at once.
Just an FYI, you can only visit St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 with a tour guide due to previous vandalism issues.