New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
724 Dumaine St
(504) 523-7685

This collection of voodoo history and memorabilia has gone from location, to location, to location within the last few years almost as if the Queen of Voodoo herself, Marie Laveau, couldn’t rest. Currently located on Dumaine this building houses a portrait of Marie Laveau as well as a gift shop and area for "readings."

Voodoo came to Louisiana from Santo Domingo during the slave uprising of 1790. Voodoo is a combination of religion, superstition. The superstitious of all races sought the charms (gris-gris) to solve problems of all types from romance to illnesses.

Marie Laveau (1794-1881) was a free woman of color as well as a Quadroon (African, Indian, French and Spanish). First as a hairdresser and then as a nurse to the wounded in the Battle of New Orleans, she became very powerful giving herself up to voodooism. Using the slaves of the rich she was able to find out the family secrets, love affairs and the fears of the rich which only made her supernatural trade grow. In the 1830’s she proclaimed herself the Pope of Voodoo. She had 15 children by her second husband and some say one of her children became almost as powerful as Marie Laveau.

There are walking tours which begin at the museum. Some tours are 90 minutes and others are 2-3 hrs. and price ranges from $14-$20. Wear comfortable shoes. Day tours begin at 10:00 a.m. Nightly tours are for adults only and begin at 8:00 and are $16.

- By Frances Vance