Infamous figures such as Madame Lalaurie, Marie Laveau and Jean Lafitte make appearances, as do the old Ursuline Convent, Napoleon House and a possible yellow fever morgue. The tour offers historical context for the legends surrounding these people and places, suggesting where the myths could have originated without necessarily debunking them.
“We don’t intend to dissect these tales in order to prove or disprove any of the legends,” said docent education coordinator Lori Boyer. “The city is full of wonderful mysteries, which add to the flavor of our history. We intend to reveal different layers of the stories so that people may understand how and why each legend came to be.”
“Visitors will learn about the ghastly details of each haunted location and then learn about the historical time period in which they occurred,” said Boyer. The tour begins with the settling of New Orleans, when young French women were sent to the colony as brides for male settlers—and they were rumored to have brought vampires along with them. It continues into the time of Spanish rule, when French merchants plotted a rebellion but instead met an unfortunate fate. The tour also explains the atmosphere of death and decay that pervaded the city during the massive outbreaks of yellow fever in the mid-1800s.
Tours are available daily Tuesday–Sunday, October 1–30 at 2 p.m. On Halloween Sunday, October 31, three tours will be offered, at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. “Historic Haunts” is intended for an adult audience. Admission is $5, free for THNOC members.
“Historic Haunts: Myths and Legends of the Vieux Carré”
Williams Gallery, 533 Royal St.
Tuesday–Sunday, October 1-30, 2 p.m.
Sunday, October 31, 11 a.m., 2 & 3 p.m.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment