Madame Delphine LaLaurie was the most popular socialite in New Orleans. Three husbands: first died in a shipwreck, second was a pirate-adjacent smuggler, third was fifteen years younger.
In 1833, an enslaved girl named Lia fell from the roof during a whipping. LaLaurie was fined $300 and had relatives buy her enslaved people back at auction.
On April 10, 1834, a 70-year-old cook chained to the stove set the fire deliberately — she preferred to burn rather than be taken upstairs.
Seven enslaved people were found bound and starved. Up to 4,000 New Orleanians — 8% of the city — went to the Cabildo to see the survivors.
LaLaurie fled to Paris. Died December 7, 1849. Her body was exhumed and shipped back to New Orleans two years later.
During Reconstruction, the mansion became an integrated school. In 1874, the White League expelled the Black students.
Nicolas Cage bought it in 2007 for $3.45M to write a horror novel. Never wrote a word. Lost it to foreclosure. Now owned by the founde
r of US Ghost Adventures, who also owns the Lizzie Borden house.
— From the tour: Ghosts, Graves & the Voodoo Queen
