About This Location
The oldest documented plantation home in the lower Mississippi Valley, established in 1787. This property witnessed the German Coast Uprising of 1811, one of the largest slave revolts in American history. Ranked fifth among the most haunted places in New Orleans.
The Ghost Story
Stephen Henderson's spirit is most frequently seen - he married into the Destrehan family and oversaw the plantation's expansion. Jean Noel Destrehan, the original owner, also wanders the estate. Guides warn visitors: "If you feel someone touch your hair, it's probably just Lydia, a 17-year-old girl who died of Yellow Fever." Australian mystic Victoria Maison photographed a ghost on the back stairway during the 2006 Spring Festival. Ghost tours use dowsing rods, K2 meters, and spirit boxes to communicate with the many souls who never left.