Ghosts, Gods, & Gangsters of New Orleans

The stories here range from alleged vampires to a mob killing, public executions, and rumors about a pharmacy. Ghosts, Gods, & Gangsters of New Orleans uses the city’s French Quarter streets as its stage, with guide Dr. Edward Simmons connecting eerie tales to the places where they took root.

I like two things in particular: the mix of true crime and supernatural folklore, which gives the walk more range than a string of ghost stories, and the small-group cap of 20, which leaves room for questions. The route also passes major French Quarter landmarks, so the city’s architecture and streets become part of the story.

One consideration: you stay outdoors and do not enter the buildings. That keeps the focus on storytelling and street-side views, not interior tours, and weather matters. Bring suitable clothing, especially in winter or rain.

At a glance

• Casket girls and vampire lore: Hear the legend outside the Old Ursuline Convent.
• Gangsters and grisly crime: Stories include a notorious killing at the former Beauregard-Keyes house and the underworld history of Gallatin Street.
• Jackson Square’s darker past: The guide recounts public executions once held on these grounds.
• Folklore, not a haunted-house visit: Stops take place outside private buildings, and admission is not included where listed.
• A small walking group: The maximum is 20 people, and the tour lasts about 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Led by Dr. Edward Simmons: The storytelling style is animated, with history, humor, and room for questions.

A French Quarter walk with a dark side

New Orleans is famous for ghost stories, but this walk does not rely on ghosts alone. Its themes include criminal history, public punishment, medical rumors, and the local legends that have gathered around old buildings. That mix makes the tour appealing even if you are skeptical about the supernatural.

Dr. Edward Simmons leads the experience, and the strongest praise centers on his energetic storytelling, sense of humor, and ability to keep a group engaged. His delivery matters on a walking tour: you are standing on city sidewalks, not watching a staged show, so the stories and the guide’s voice supply much of the atmosphere.

The tour is listed at about 1 hour 45 minutes, with seven stops described as roughly 10 minutes apiece. The rest of the time goes to walking between locations, gathering the group, and setting up each story. It is a manageable evening activity, but it is still an outdoor walk, so comfortable shoes and weather-ready clothes are sensible.

Starting near the Old Ursuline Convent

The meeting point is 916 Dutch Alley in New Orleans. Arrive 30 minutes before departure for check-in, and plan your route there with care: late arrivals cannot be accommodated. The tour runs to schedule, and rideshare or taxi delays are worth allowing for.

The first stop is outside the Old Ursuline Convent Museum, an early city landmark. Here, the guide tells the legend of the casket girls, young women said to have arrived with unusual chests. Folklore turns those chests into a source of vampire tales, with supposedly restless beings connected to the convent and surrounding streets.

This is a useful opening because it sets the tour’s tone: the city’s history is real, while some of the supernatural claims belong to legend. You can enjoy the eerie premise without mistaking it for established fact. The stop is brief, about 10 minutes, and admission to the museum is not included. You look up at the building from outside rather than going in.

A gangster story at the Beauregard-Keyes house

The next stop is the BK Historic House and Gardens, a columned mansion once associated with Civil War general P.T. Beauregard and later with author Frances Parkinson Keyes. The story here shifts from vampire folklore to a real-world criminal past. The guide recounts a mafia killing connected to the property and the idea that a feud still haunts it.

This change of subject is one of the tour’s strengths. Instead of treating every old building as a ghost site, the walk links atmosphere to people and events, including the city’s underworld. The house is viewed from outside, and the stop is free. You should not expect a garden or interior visit as part of the experience.

The account may be most interesting to visitors who already know the French Quarter’s better-known ghost tales and want a different angle. The tour’s descriptions mix documented history with claims of lingering spirits, so listen for the difference between the event being discussed and the haunting attached to it.

The LaLaurie Mansion and a disturbing history

The LaLaurie Mansion is one of the tour’s most emotionally difficult stops. The guide recounts the notorious history associated with Madame Delphine LaLaurie and the suffering of enslaved people in her household. The building’s elegant exterior can feel jarring beside the brutality described.

This is not simply a spooky stop. Its subject is human cruelty, and the story deserves to be heard with care rather than treated as a Halloween thrill. The guide also addresses the ghost stories connected to the property, but the historical account is enough to make the address unsettling.

You remain outside the mansion. Admission is not included, and the tour does not enter private buildings. Expect a short pause, around 10 minutes, rather than a detailed visit to the interior. If you are traveling with older teens, the tour is listed for ages 17 and up, and this stop is one reason to consider whether the subject matter is right for your group.

Gallatin Street’s underworld past

Near the French Market, the guide points out the area once associated with Gallatin Street, described as a late-19th-century red-light district. The story is about more than vice: sailors and other visitors were drawn to its businesses, while danger, predation, and crime lurked behind the street’s entertainments.

The present-day setting may not look much like the grim place in the story. That contrast is part of the point. The tour asks you to imagine how a street’s purpose and reputation can change, while its past remains part of the city’s memory.

Here, as elsewhere, some details are presented as local tales rather than settled fact. The guide’s job is to give you the story and its setting, not to make every rumor sound proven. That distinction helps keep the experience entertaining without turning every shadow into evidence.

Jackson Square, beyond the postcard view

Jackson Square is one of the French Quarter’s most familiar public spaces, but the tour looks at its past as a place of public executions. The guide describes prisoners meeting their deaths by hanging or other forms of execution, watched by crowds. Today’s green lawns and lively surroundings make that history feel especially stark.

This stop adds weight to the walk. It puts the city’s dark stories in a civic space rather than only in supposedly haunted houses. The account also invites a broader question: how public punishment was treated as spectacle, and how we understand those events now.

The stop is free and takes place outside, with no ticket required. As with the other locations, the tour gives you a concise story rather than a full historical lecture. If you want more time to examine the square or cathedral, plan to return on your own.

The Pharmacy Museum and stories of plague

The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum is the setting for a more uncertain tale. The guide describes rumors that the building was linked to secret medical experiments during plague years, supposedly carried out in the search for remedies. The account itself acknowledges that details and facts are elusive.

That uncertainty is important. This is best heard as a disturbing rumor attached to a medical landmark, not as a confirmed account of specific experiments. The stop offers a chance to think about the fear and moral questions that can accompany epidemics, while keeping the line between evidence and lore in view.

The museum is not part of the visit, and admission is not included. You hear the story from outside. If you would like to see the museum itself, you will need to arrange a separate visit.

The Omni Royal Orleans and a modern shadow

The final described stop is outside the Omni Royal Orleans. The guide connects the hotel’s polished appearance with stories of fire, criminal dealings, and tragedy, including a suicide and speculation surrounding a murder. The contrast between a busy hotel and the troubling stories attached to it closes the tour on a more recent note.

Some of these subjects are sensitive, and the tour’s presentation may not suit everyone. The guide may share personal experiences from nights spent in the hotel, but the details can vary. The stop is outside, and admission is not included.

The activity ends at a different location from the meeting point, but the exact end point is not specified in the information provided. Keep that in mind if you have dinner plans, a car pickup, or a booking immediately afterward.

What the $34 price gets you

At $34 per person, you are paying for a guided walking experience of about 1 hour 45 minutes, not for museum entries, transport, or indoor access. A licensed and certified guide is included, as is a mobile ticket. Alcohol is not provided, though responsible drinking is permitted.

The value rests mainly on the guide’s storytelling and the route’s range. Seven locations let the tour move through ghost lore, true crime, executions, and medical rumors without making you commit to a full evening of activities. The small-group maximum of 20 is another plus: a tighter group can hear the guide more easily and ask questions without the walk feeling like a street crowd.

Group discounts are available, though the discount details are not specified here. The tour is booked, on average, 25 days in advance, so it is sensible to plan early if you have a particular evening in mind. It is offered in English.

Who will enjoy this walk

This tour is a good fit if you like New Orleans history with a darker edge, especially stories about crime and the supernatural. It also works for mixed-interest groups: the historical material gives skeptical companions something to enjoy, while the ghost lore supplies a little night-time creepiness.

The style is animated and humorous, based on the way Dr. Edward Simmons is described by people who have taken the walk. That can help keep unsettling material from becoming relentlessly grim. At the same time, the LaLaurie story, executions, and suicide references are serious subjects, not light entertainment.

The tour is adults only, with a minimum age of 17. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. There is no private transportation, so you walk between stops and should be prepared to remain outdoors for the full experience.

Practical details before you book

Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. The tour operates outdoors, and winter clothing is especially useful in cold months. Poor weather can lead to cancellation, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside 24 hours are not accepted, and no refund is provided for a late cancellation. The experience also requires a minimum number of participants; if that minimum is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a refund.

Should you book Ghosts, Gods, & Gangsters?

Book it if you want a compact French Quarter walk led by a strong storyteller, with more than ghost tales in the mix. The most useful feature is the balance of crime, history, and folklore, anchored to recognizable places rather than a bus ride or indoor attraction.

Skip it if you want to enter historic buildings, spend time in museums, or avoid disturbing subjects. At $34, the price is fair for a guided evening walk, but the experience depends heavily on listening, imagining, and standing outside. For a curious adult or older teen who enjoys true crime and eerie local lore, it is a practical way to spend an evening in New Orleans.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about 1 hour 45 minutes.

How much does it cost?

The listed price is $34 per person. Group discounts are available, but the discount amount is not specified.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at 916 Dutch Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at a different location from the meeting point. The exact end point is not specified here.

What is the minimum age?

The tour is for adults aged 17 and older.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 20 people.

Is the tour indoors?

No. The stops take place outside, and the tour does not go inside private buildings.

Are museum admissions included?

No. Admission is not included at the Old Ursuline Convent Museum, the LaLaurie Mansion, or the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum.

Is transportation included?

No. Private transportation is not included, and the tour is a walking activity.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund.