New Orleans is one of America’s most distinctive cities. Centuries of French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences blend into a cultural gumbo unlike anywhere else. While tourists flock to Bourbon Street and indulge in beignets at Café du Monde, the true essence of the Crescent City lies in the lesser-known tales etched into its historic streets, buildings, and communities.
Beyond the jazz clubs and vibrant parades, New Orleans is filled with remarkable secrets and overlooked history. Here are 20 untold stories that reveal the authentic character of this resilient, complex, and endlessly fascinating city.
The Axeman’s Jazz
In 1918-19, an unidentified serial attacker terrorized New Orleans, breaking into homes and attacking residents with an axe. The mysterious figure published a letter in newspapers claiming he would spare anyone playing jazz music on a specific night.
That evening, the city erupted with jazz from homes and clubs as terrified residents complied with the bizarre request. The attacker was never caught, leaving behind one of the city’s most chilling mysteries.
The Casket Girls
In the early 1700s, young French women arrived in New Orleans carrying small wooden chests or ‘casquettes’ containing their belongings. These ‘Casket Girls’ were sent to marry colonists and help establish proper French society in the new territory…