The Beauregard-Keyes House

The Beauregard-Keyes House at 1113 Chartres Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter is a historic gem with a chilling reputation as one of the city’s most haunted sites. Built in 1826 for auctioneer Joseph LeCarpentier, this Greek Revival mansion blends Creole and American architectural styles. Named after two prominent residents—Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard, who rented it from 1866 to 1868, and author Frances Parkinson Keyes, who lived there from 1945 until her death in 1970—the house has a storied past that fuels its paranormal lore. Now a museum, it draws visitors for both its history and its ghostly tales.

Haunted Reputation

The house is infamous for spectral sightings, eerie sounds, and an unsettling atmosphere tied to its violent history. Here are the key hauntings reported:

Civil War Soldiers: The most frequent apparitions are Confederate soldiers, often seen in tattered gray or butternut uniforms. Witnesses describe them standing vacantly in the halls or garden before vanishing. Some report vivid scenes of the Battle of Shiloh replaying in the main hall, with spectral soldiers bearing mangled limbs and gruesome wounds, accompanied by sounds of gunfire, groans, and the smell of musket fire or blood. These reports surged after World War II, suggesting a lingering echo of the Civil War era tied to Beauregard’s presence.

General Beauregard’s Ghost: Beauregard himself is said to haunt the house, often seen wandering at night, reportedly searching for his missing boots. Frances Parkinson Keyes claimed his meticulous nature as a dresser keeps his spirit restless, unable to rest without his full uniform. His apparition is described as sociable, sometimes joining ghostly gatherings in the ballroom.

Mafia Murders: In 1904, the Giacona family, part of the Sicilian Mafia’s Black Hand, purchased the house and ran an illegal liquor business. In 1908, patriarch Pietro Giacona and his son Corrado killed three mob bosses (and injured a fourth) in a dining room ambush after extortion demands escalated. Visitors report feeling a heavy presence in the dining room, with some sensing the “pungent smell of blood and decay” or hearing faint echoes of the violent event.

Paul Morphy’s Torment: Chess prodigy Paul Morphy, born in the house in 1837, reportedly went mad there, claiming demonic possession. He was found running naked down Chartres Street with an axe, threatening passersby. While some attribute his breakdown to personal struggles, others believe the house’s dark energy drove him to insanity. His restless spirit is occasionally linked to unsettling feelings in certain rooms.

Ghostly Animals: The house is home to spectral pets, including Caroline, a ghost cat whose name is engraved on a courtyard tombstone (died May 9, 1994). Visitors report feeling her brush past or seeing her shadowy form. A ghost dog, Lucky, the cocker spaniel of Frances Parkinson Keyes, is also sighted, especially near the fireplace in Keyes’ bedroom. A blind woman’s guide dog once reacted frantically in this room, as if sensing another animal.

Ballroom Phantoms: The ballroom is a hotspot for paranormal activity, with reports of faint fiddle music, dancing footsteps, and apparitions of a woman in a long dress gliding through. Some believe these are echoes of lavish parties from the house’s early days, possibly attended by Beauregard or other residents.

Historical Context

The house’s dark history amplifies its haunted aura. Originally built on land gifted to Ursuline nuns by the King of France, it was intended as a weapons arsenal before becoming a private residence. Its early owners included slave auctioneers, adding a layer of moral weight. Beauregard’s brief tenancy tied it to the Civil War, while the Giacona family’s mafia ties brought bloodshed. Frances Parkinson Keyes, who restored the house and wrote 30 novels there (including Madame Castel’s Lodger, featuring Beauregard), reported paranormal experiences herself, cementing its spooky reputation. The house survived Hurricane Katrina in 2005, though its roof and garden sustained damage, and remains a National Historic Landmark.

Visiting the Beauregard-Keyes House:  Ghost tours, like those by US Ghost Adventures or NOLA Ghosts, delve deeper into the supernatural.      Website for the museum:  https://www.bkhouse.org/