Vampire Legend in New Orleans
When the sun goes down and the moon arises, it’s hard not to wander the streets of the French Quarter and think about vampires. They could be lurking in every shadow. You may smile at a stranger and get a glimpse of fangs. It’s part of the subculture here. New Orleans is vampire territory.
There are shadows everywhere in New Orleans.
This is due in some part to one of New Orleans’ literary icons: Anne Rice. She’s made more than one home here and has written several vampire novels while living in New Orleans. Where does she get her inspiration? Maybe from the vampire tales that abound.
Vampire tour in New Orleans
We heard a few of these creepy tales on our Vampire Tour with Haunted History Tours. We met at Jackson Square and set off down dimly lit alleys where macabre stories of blood-draining occurred. One of these stories centered around the “casket girls” who came to New Orleans. They were sent from convents and orphanages in France to marry and settle the French areas of Louisiana and were called “casquette” or “casket” girls because they carried their belongings in a small casket-like chest. Not surprisingly, these girls had little ties to their homeland of France, so when they went missing in the New World, little attention was paid. Until two of the girls were found dead — drained of their blood by vampires.
Creepy! But I don’t want to give all of the vampire legends away.
Anne Rice lived here.
Anne Rice and Vampires in New Orleans
I love a good story. The Vampire Tour was full of them. I also love visiting the homes of famous authors. Though Anne Rice’s houses were not on the Vampire Tour, we had a chance to see two of them on our tour of the Garden District. I looked at her houses and imagined Anne looking out her windows as she wrote; vampires prowling the abandoned nighttime streets. But it’s likely that the scarier creatures were actually inside with her. This troubled author has struggled with alcoholism, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and mourning the death of her 4-year-old daughter who many cite as the inspiration for her child vampire character, Claudia in Interview with the Vampire. Rice’s daughter died of leukemia – – a disease of the blood.
New Orleans has been home to vampire culture for centuries. The gothic architecture. The shadowy alleys. The thirst for the macabre in the humidity of the deep, Creole South makes New Orleans ripe for vampire legend. Don’t believe me? The only vampire shop in the United States is there. As is the New Orleans Vampire Association. Oh, yes. In New Orleans, vampires walk among us. And many of them do, in fact, wear fangs.
Are you familiar with New Orleans vampire culture?
Browsing The Atlas 
I haven’t been to New Orleans, but a vampire tour would certainly add to the atmosphere!
Yes. I don’t think there are many place that offer vampire tours. Maybe Transylvania like Lillian suggests below. If not, they’re missing out on a great opportunity!
Didn’t know vampires were such a big part of the culture in New Orleans! I always associated them with places like Transylvania and other parts of Eastern Europe. Wonder what the New Orleans Vampire Association does- do they go wandering around in vampire attire late at night? 🙂
I think they are nocturnal, but their mission seems to be to help the homeless. ???
I’m all for keeping an open mind on things that we don’t understand but I think the vampire thing is a fairly modern derivation of Eastern Europe folk tales, and they make a good stories 🙂 Serve me right if get a bat tangled in my hair tonight.
I think you’re right about the European roots. But we could both be wrong. I think much of New Orleans’ vampire culture probably had something to do with Anne Rice. Or maybe she was drawn back there because of the vampire culture. She was originally from there.