_2 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA_ New Orleans is a living city. It has character, a mind of its own. It breathes, and when you're there, you can feel its pulse. But that doesn't mean everything in the city is alive. We're talking about ghosts. New Orleans, and more specifically the French Quarter, is positively teeming with ghosts. There are, of course, tons of haunted hotels you can stay at. But maybe you want to experience New Orleans and even something paranormal, but just not when you're trying to sleep. It's understandable.
It's Complicated...
Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, there was a concept in New Orleans called plaçage. Interracial marriage was illegal, but there were ways around that.
To get around that law, they held Quadroon Balls - basically a get-together of rich adolescent white boys and similarly-aged free girls of color.
If one of the boys found one of the girls attractive, he would negotiate with her mother and sign a contract. That contract would allow the boy to take the girl as a sort of concubine until he got married to a white woman later in life.
Plaçage was a pretty messed up thing, but it actually had some benefits. The boy and his family made sure that the girl had a home and was fully provided for.
Anything he bought for her, including a home, she got to keep after the contract was over. Any children they had were also very well cared for, often educated in Europe.
Then...there's Julie's story.
Julie, the Naked Octoroon Ghost
A Woman Scorned
Plaçage was supposed to be a discreet arrangement. Everyone knew about it, but it was never openly discussed. Julie decided she wanted to get some payback on Jean.
She went downstairs and asked to be introduced to Jean's friends. Jean tried to pass Julie off as his maid. Needless to say, she wasn't very happy. Their fight was rekindled.
Julie wanted to prove she was wife material. She asked Jean what she could do to prove her devotion to him. He told her to make like a tree, get naked, hop up on the roof and wait for him to go get her.
Julie did just that. The problem was that it was Christmas Eve. Even New Orleans gets cold in December. As a result, Julie froze to death.
Since then, visitors and locals alike have claimed to see the ghost of a naked woman sitting on the roof at 734 Royal Street. That's just a mile from the Hilton Riverside.
Be sure to let us know if you happen to spot any specters while staying at the Hilton Riverside Hotel!
Visitor Tips
- Ask staff about recent paranormal activity
- Bring a camera for potential ghost photos
- Visit common areas after midnight
