“Home of a Ghastly Past”
In the French Quarter of New Orleans there is an ordinary looking house, but a closer look at the hidden past of the property reveals a more complicated history- tales of secret attics, murder, and...Nicolas Cage? It’s all true in the haunted Lalaurie House. The dark history of the Lalaurie House began in 1832 when wealthy doctor Louis Lalaurie and his wife Delphine moved into the mansion. The family was one of prominent standing in the community at that time- they were socialites and and threw lavish parties for their neighbors. Despite the appearance of their charming lifestyle, whispers of more sinister things spread through the slave class. It seemed there was an extremely high turnover with the house slaves- not only did the Lalauries frequently purchase new slaves, but no one ever seemed to figure out what happened to the old ones. Until, that is, a fire broke out in the Lalaurie kitchen. Some say it was a slave that started it in hopes to bring law enforcement into the house to investigate, but when authorities did show up, they discovered a secret attic with a grisly scene. Many of the former slaves who were thought to have disappeared were still within the house, in cages or attached to chains. All were disfigured and mutilated beyond recognition, tortured beyond belief. Many had died and their body parts were strewn around the room. The town immediately gathered as an angry mob in order to arrest the couple, but the Lalauries barely escaped them by carriage, never to be seen or heard from again. It was then understood from multiple slave accounts that Delphine had been the mastermind behind the torture chamber, and her husband simply turned a blind eye to her horrendous experiments. The following history of the mansion had been relatively quiet - being used at one point as a saloon and a music conservatory, until it was learned that Nicolas Cage purchased the building in 2007 under anonymous conditions. He held onto the property until 2009 until it foreclose, along with a number of his other properties. Today, the space still stands, as a private living space split into condominiums.
The picture shown looked exactly like the place when I went there, it's a private home now there are no tours but it has been updated per the new owner. A group of locals on the street assured me it was the right place and other tourists were there taking pictures, it's on Royal but wraps around the corner and it's all worth at least a look.
Went as part of a tour. The history behind this building is spooky to say the least. Great tour with French Quarter Phantoms.
Lalaurie Mansion is featured as Madame Lalaurie’s House of Horrors on the show "American Horror Story: Coven". It’s a major stop on any French Quarter ghost tour. According to legend one night in 1834 a fire broke out at the house and when rescuers entered the home they found the mutilated remains of slaves who were imprisoned in the attic and one who was chained to a kitchen stove. A mob ransacked the mansion and Madame Lalaurie presumably fled the city and was never seen nor heard from again. Over the years the building has served as a barber shop, furniture store, girls school and music conservatory. Nicolas Cage even owned the home, til he had to give it up to pay back taxes.
Lalaurie Mansion is such an unbelievably creepy part of New Orleans history you cannot miss stopping by. It's true that it's on private property, but there are loads of guided tours you can take that make a stop outside of the building to horrify attendees with stories of the nightmare that happened inside. If you're visiting New Orleans for the creepy, you can't miss seeing this place.
This season of American Horror Story is using this story
definitely a fun picture op. you can't go in though, but they did have a Halloween display in one of the doorways which was cool. on the adjacent corner is a small convenience store/deli; awesome food! highly recommend a stop at the deli
The story of the slaves in the attack is not true because in 1834 the house didn't have an attack, it was only 2 stories with the 2nd story being the living quarters. The 3rd story was added years later by new owners. The slaves were found in the back building which were the slave quarters. They were never the victims of grotesque medical experiments. That story originated from the crude medical devices of the time used by Dr. Lalaurie who was an orthopedist. Unfortunately there is more legend to the house than fact.
The story of this house is scary as shit. You can't go in but I dont know why anyone would ever want to. Make sure your ghost tour includes this place.
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Lalaurie Haunted Mansion
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