The Paranormal Blog

It is one of the most magnificent homes in the entire Garden District.  The Greek Revival mansion was built in 1857 by James Calrow and owned by Alexander Harris, a very prominent Sephardic Jew that lived in New Orleans.  It was in this period of our history that religions outside of Catholicism and Protestant began to thrive in the city.  He had the house built for his wife Lizzie. In 1869, a massive yellow fever epidemic hit the city of New Orleans. Yellow fever was a very mysterious disease.  Doctors of the time still had no knowledge of tropical medicine nor had realized that mosquitoes breeding in the water supplies were the cause.     The fever is a volatile disease attacking the liver.  Victims of the fever become jaundiced and run high temperatures. Eventually, the victim begins to vomit up blood and…

Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America, died at this double gallery Greek rival house.   Davis fell ill while traveling and was taken here, the home of his friend Judge Charles Fenner (son-in-law of owner Jacob Payne). A stone marker in front of the house bears the date of Davis’s death, December 6, 1889. (Davis was buried in magnificent Metairie Cemetery for 2 years and then was disinterred and moved to Virginia.) This house is a classic antebellum Greek Revival home. Note the sky-blue ceiling of the gallery — the color is believed to keep winged insects from nesting there and to ward off evil spirits.    During and after the War for Southern Independence, Jefferson Davis was accused of a wide variety of offences. Northerners made the most extensive and lasting attacks upon Davis. In one of these insults…

One of the most popular and beloved ghosts in the Garden District is the ghost of Josephine, here at the Buckner Mansion.  The mansion was built in the late 1850’s for Henry Buckner by architect, Lewis Reynolds. The 24,000 square foot house has 48 fluted columns and 16 foot ceilings throughout the first floor and 14 foot ceilings on the second floor.    Although the Buckners had several slaves, Josephine a paid servant in the home, was a free woman of color.  She had remained with the family after slavery was abolished.  She acted as midwife and herbal healer in the community giving way to rumors of her being a witch.  Josephine lived to the ripe old age at that time, of 60 years old.  Her love of the property and the Buckners has provoked Josephine to continue to reside in…

New Orleanians have a very unique way of burying the dead; above the ground.  These above ground actually work as natural cremation.  The tombs become unfathomably hot especially in the hot, humid New Orleans’ summers. It takes about a year after which all soft tissue has decomposed. There will of course be bone. It takes much longer to decompose but not there is nothing left but bones and dust. This can be removed from the coffin and dumped into a chamber in the back of the tomb. The burial space can then be used for another coffin. This type of burial was very efficient particularly during the yellow fever epidemics when people died by the thousands. :Yellow fever at the time was very mysterious. European and American doctors had no knowledge of tropical medicine. It was not until much later…

The area of New Orleans between St. Charles and Magazine Streets, bordered by Jackson Avenue and Louisiana Avenue, is called the Garden District.  By 1803, Louisiana had gone from being French to Spanish, then back to French. Napoleon was the ruler of France at this time.  Although he vowed to the king of Spain never to give Louisiana to any other country except to give it back to Spain, he never said he wouldn’t sell it.  For it was this same year that he orchestrated the largest land for cash deal in history, the Louisiana Purchase.  Although Spain had ruled for forty years, New Orleans had remained French, and Catholic.  French New Orleanians had no desire to become American.  Most Americans at the time were Protestant which didn’t settle well with these staunch Catholics.  Additionally, New Orleanians had even less…

Hey, y’all! Sidney Smith here, the guy fortunate enough to be at the helm of Haunted History Tours. Today, let’s peel back the layers of history and dive deep into the enigmatic Andrew Jackson Hotel, a place that’s as much a part of New Orleans as the beignets at Café du Monde. Now, you may…

Hello, friends and fellow seekers of the strange and spectral! Sidney Smith here, your seasoned guide to all things haunted in New Orleans. Today, I want to talk about a place that captivates the imagination of locals and visitors alike—Charity Hospital. A Brief History First, let’s set the stage. Charity Hospital was founded in 1736,…

Hey y’all, Sidney Smith here from Haunted History Tours. If you’re a thrill-seeker like me, you know there’s nothing like the allure of a haunted hotel. These places don’t just offer you a comfy bed and room service; they serve up chills and thrills, courtesy of their resident ghosts. Yes, you heard it right! I’m…

Hello dear friends and fellow horror seekers, Sidney Smith here, the proud owner of Haunted History Tours, with a tale that’s as fascinating as it is mysterious. Today, I want to take you on a journey to the Tomb of the Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau. You might have heard whispers of her legendary prowess and…

Hello, friends and fellow explorers of the unknown, Sidney Smith here, your guide to the mysterious and the eerie, and the proud owner of Haunted History Tours. Today, I’d like to take you on a written tour of the hauntingly beautiful Garden District in New Orleans, where grand mansions hold the secrets of past residents…

Hello, dear readers, It’s Sidney here, reaching out from the heart of the French Quarter, where time seems to blur between the past and present. Over the many years of running Haunted History Tours, I’ve taken thousands of eager souls on journeys through the narrow streets and dimly lit alleys of our beloved New Orleans….

Hello, fellow supernatural explorers! I’m Sydney Smith, your guide into the mysteries of New Orleans’ paranormal history, and the proud owner of Haunted History Tours. Today, I’d like to take you on a virtual tour of one of our most iconic stops – Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. Located at the corner of Bourbon Street and…