New Orleans' Aloft Hotel: Modern Accommodations Set in the City's Dark Past
New Orleans' history is rich, and at times, extremely uncomfortable. Thanks to the mighty Mississippi River, the city was a busy port for trade, and unfortunately, trade included humans. Thousands of enslaved persons were brought, bought, and sold in New Orleans. Now, these poor tortured souls dominate the city's ghost population. That's right. New Orleans has a ghost population. It's easily argued that The Big Easy is America's Most Haunted City. And the ghosts don't care if their home is now a modern hotel.
The History of the Ghosts
At 225 Baronne Street in New Orleans, the Aloft Hotel is the perfect place to stay when visiting New Orleans. On the edge of the French Quarter and the CBD, the city's best restaurants are within walking distance.
But if it's a haunted New Orleans you're interested in, there's no reason to leave your room at The Aloft.
Thanks to American Horror Story, everyone has heard of the cruel and ruthless Madame Lalaurie. Her torture and brutality of enslaved persons is a painful wound in New Orleans' history.
Unfortunately, she is an example of the atrocities in human trafficking that were a part of 19th-century life in New Orleans.
New Orleans has always been different. While most southern cities had designated structures and locations for the slave trade, New Orleans practiced the business city-wide.
An opulent hotel in the French Quarter held auctions in their rotunda. Traders utilized private homes, public parks, and commercial complexes such as Banks Arcade to sell humans. Where there was commerce, there were slave traders.
Historians struggle to sort out each and every location that slaves were sold; however, the expansive network did leave evidence of locations through documents and adverts.
The auction blocks expanded with the city, and between 1811 and 1862, there was a minimum of fifty-two sites.
Visitor Tips
- Request a room on the third floor for Colonial Soldier encounters
- Bring extra batteries - electronic devices drain quickly in active rooms
- The pool area is most active between midnight and 3 AM
- Keep a journal by your bedside to record nighttime experiences
- The lobby after midnight offers the best chance to see the Jazz Age couple
- Download the hotel app before arrival - paranormal messages are common
- Corner suites have the most electronic disturbances but also the most activity
