St. Louis Cemetery (New Orleans, LA)

"Considered by locals, visitors and paranormal investigators world wide as actually the most haunted cemetery in the world and the No. # 1 haunted Cemetery in all the United States. Multiple ghosts are said to haunt this famous New Orleans cemetery, You can also visit the haunted tomb of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau.

Before the introduction of modern drainage, the high water table of New Orleans made burials impractical: you could dig into the marshy ground and inter a corpse, but it would probably float past you after the next heavy storm. The solution was to bury people above ground, in tombs and mausoleums. In doing so, the people of New Orleans created some of the most evocative, and hauntingly beautiful, locations anywhere in the world. These sprawling and maze-like necropoli have been the home of many ghost stories, but one location dominates: Cemetery St Louis No. 1. is the most haunted.

The oldest cemetery in New Orleans, is a grand European mixture of ornate marble tombs, crumbling memorials and narrow, winding footpaths. Some visitors have heard weeping and groaning from inside the crypts, while many have seen a range of spectral phenomena, ranging from unusual mists to fully fledged transparent figures. An old male face is reputed to manifest on the walls of one particular tomb, but one ghost dominates all others: the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.

Although the truth of her life is firmly obscured by folklore, there most definitely was a Marie Laveau and a Marie Laveau II (buried in St. Louis Cemetery no.2), Voodoo Priestess'. Whether she really did live to over a hundred while retaining the lithe, sensual, body of a young woman is entirely open to debate, but this Voodoo ‘Queen’ certainly left her mark on New Orleans culture. People still visit her tomb to seek assistance in their hoodoo voodoo rituals, leaving small tributes and marking signs with powdery stone. Disturbingly, Laveau also appears to frequent the cemetery, as the stream of sightings which began after her death in 1881 have never actually ever ceased.

( A Marie Laveau Ritual is held every year by local Voodoo Priestess Manbo Sallie Ann Glassman visit here for more info.)

This old New Orleans' graveyard is said to be haunted by the ghost of the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Marie Laveau. Her spirit has been reported inside of the cemetery, walking between the tombs wearing a red and white turban with seven knots in it, and mumbling a original New Orleans Santeria Hoodoo Voodoo curse to Cemetery trespassers. Her Voodoo curse is said to be very loud and very audible, heard often by passerby's on nearby Rampart Street. Locals say this has started in recent years for she is alarmed by the many vandals and state of the cemetery.

Voudon Believers, Tourist and locals still come to Marie Laveaus' tomb daily to leave many, many Voodoo offerings. (candles, flowers, the monkey and the cock wish statue voodoo hex curio good luck charm, Mardi Gras beads and parade Krewe dabloons, Gris Gris bags, money, Voodoo dolls, Zombie bottle wish dolls and food) All in hopes of being blessed by her supernatural powers from beyond the grave. Many make a wish at her tomb marking three X's. while others say they have her Ghost, or that of a large Boa constrictors ghost draped over the tomb, on film emerging undead from her tomb.

Voodooist of her very own New Orleans Secret Hoodoo Voodoo Society ( still active in New Orleans in the 21st century) say her soul appears here often as a shiny large black Voodoo cat, with fire red eyes. If you see this Werecat run! One New Orleans Voodoo Manbo suggest upon seeing this Devil cat, cross your self three times and back away. One should never let the cat see your back. If Marie's spirit, or Devil cat sees it... you will be cursed for ever to do her bidding.

Others say Marie Laveaus' familiar, her large snake that she called Zombi, (or spelled Zombie, or Zomby) is buried in the tomb with her body. One voodooist says he was placed in the coffin alive with Marie's dead body by her daughter Marie Laveau II . A story or two have been told over the years of people seeing a large dark boa constrictor, or black anaconda over 12 feet long slithering amongst and between or through the tombs tight small allies. Always close to Marie Laveaus' tomb is Zombi, guarding it night and day. local New Orleans Voodooist say this is a great ghost snake spirit, her voodoo familiar and not a real live snake. A few young teenaged boys on a recent Haunted cemetery tour tried to catch Zombi, they said they chased him down a tight alley and Zombi just disappeared. Zombi's ghost has been said to be seen high atop Marie Laveaus' tomb basking in the noon day Sun. He protects her tomb from those that mock her, says many of the Voodooist of Marie Laveaus secret Society. One tale of this ghost snake tells that Zombi followed a recent New Orleans visitor back to her hotel room who made fun of the tomb and her legendary Voodoo magic. He appeared in bed with her as she slept and began to wrap his coils around her as she slept, Zombi frightened her out of her wits. The reason, she spit on Marie Laveaus grave.

Often stories or told of Ghostly nude Voodoo Pracaticioners in an eternal dark secret Voodoo hoodoo Ritual. Always after midnight voodoo drumming and screams well into the early morning hours. With Marie Laveaus' ghost dressed in white presiding over the ritual. Nude Voodoo Ghost dancers, male and female can be seen and heard in an orgy of spiritual Voodoo calling down the great powers.

Many times fine china plates and cups and saucers and ornate silverware or found through out St Louis No.1 graveyard often. Paranormal Investigators say this is part of the ancient wiccan practice of the occult. It is called the" Dumb Supper" or Feast la morte. This is an old ritual, a mock table setting of a meal set on the ground before a tomb or atop of a grave. Two empty plates filled with invisible ghostly food. It is usually a setting for the ghost and the a setting for the person who questions the ghost. This is to call the dead to answer your most sought after questions. Sometimes wine glasses or even bottles of rum and or wine, cigars or packs of cigarettes, bags of chips, or candy or even many times a loaf of french bread. All this can be found placed before many of it's tombs. Visitors think it's litter, but if you look at how it is placed you then realize it is a special ghost offering to the spirits of the cemetery.

Other know and un known ghost haunt this cemetery, there is a ghost called by some Henry. This haunted Cemetery Ghost story tells that he gave his tomb to the lady who owned a boarding house to keep the papers for him if he died. Local workers for the cemetery say she sold the tomb when he was away at sea. When he returned he died and was buried in potters field. Every day his ghost is said to walk up to someone visiting the cemetery asking if they know the where about's of the Vignes' tomb. Many a tour guide has related the tale of Henry and have said how he appears ragged and lost. And his blue eyes will look right into yours. The tall white shirt dressed man seems very real. Until he walk away into thin air. Sometimes he will tap you on the shoulder, or lead you to a lone tight alley between tombs asking " Do you Know anything about this Tomb here?" Then he disappears. Henry has also been known to have walked up to people at burials and asked if they think there's room in the tomb for him! His voice often appears on EVP's saying I "I need to rest!" And in ghost Photos he appears in a Dark suit with no shirt.

Another well known ghost of Sr. Louis No.1 is that of Alphonse he is a lonely young man and will take you by the hand telling you his name and asking can you help him find his way home. He is also known by some to be seen carrying flowers and vases from other tombs and placing them on his own. Those who have seen him say he is afraid of a tomb with the name Pinead on it and is said to warn visitors to stay away from it. He always has a smile on his face but is said to start crying then just disappear. Alphonse has been Known to turn up in many of a ghost Photo.

Ghost cats and dogs are said to prowl the cemetery daily. Very near the great walls of oven tombs. None of these ghost animals have ever shown signs of meanness. Several Tour guides say these are the animals of an 1800's cemetery keepers guard dogs and pets. Often they lurk the cemetery waiting for their owner who was buried in St. Louis No.2 to return to feed and care for them.

Many a strange tale tells of Madame Delphine Lalaurie being secretly buried here. a placque was once found stating that she was may not be far from the spooky truth. Many noble New Orleans society tombs and other notables lie here in eternal un-rest.

Mary Onieda Toups the witch queen of New Orleans once said, "The Dead walk the allies of St. Louis number1 more often then the living!"( Her remains are said to be buried here in a secret tomb.) " And when I passover I'll certainly Be one of them!"

Other ghost or that of a lost man that ask in help in putting flowers on his wife's grave then to only to fade into a mist. Jimmy, as he is often called is a large heavy set man with piercing blue eyes. He is said to smell bad or stale, and has a few missing teeth. His ghost's apparition is said to look very real and alive. Fagen has also been known to ask people for a ride home or even offer to carry small children for people. One Fagen ghost tale tell of him being a drunk ghost and that he sings off color songs and tells nasty jokes on EVP's.

Orbs, ghost photos, EVP"S, strange paranormal phenomena and ghost activity, Voodoo rituals, witchcraft, and haunting's to many to mention all happen in this the most haunted Cemetery in America. Visitors to the cemetery are advised to go there at their own risk.

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