The Creole mansion was built in 1831 and lived in by Delphine and Dr Louis LaLaurie. They were known and respected for their wealth and social standing. The exterior of the house was rather plain but inside was very lavish and the guests from the social gatherings held there were treated in grand style. This was the side of Madame Lalaurie that she wanted people to see, but there was another side that was of cruel cold blooded women.

The house and the Lalauries were attended by dozens of slaves and she had every whim catered for. The cook was chained to the fireplace in the kitchen and other slaves were brutally treated. The neighbours were the first to suspect something was wrong after noticing that slaves kept coming and going and other would disappear without trace. One day a neighbour heard a scream and looked up to see Madame LaLaurie chasing her personal slave with a whip on the top balcony, the girl jumped to her death, she was buried under a tree in the yard. This was reported and the authorities removed the slaves from the house and sold them at auction, but LaLaurie had persuaded relatives to buy them and sell them back to her.

The stories continued about she treated her slaves and invites to her house had began to go ignored and the family began to be avoided by the other members of society. In 1834 the true extent of the horror was realised. A fire broke out in the kitchen and swept through the house, after the fireman had put the fire out they discovered a gruesome site behind a secret door in the attic. 
 
They saw dozens of slaves in terrible states; some were chained to walls, other to makeshift operating tables, and some in dog cages, all were naked. Body parts were missing and internal organs were found in buckets, it was clear to see it was done to ensure a long lingering death. Most slaves were already dead, others unconscious and a few crying out in pain. The fireman fled and doctors from nearby hospitals came to the house. All the slaves were removed. After word of what happened spread mobs gathered outside the house seeking vengeance. The LaLaurie family fled the house and there are no records to say they were ever saw again or of any charges been brought against them.

Since then there have been numerous tenants and usages of the house but none staying or lasting for very long and it spent many periods standing empty. Over the years it was a private home, in 1874 a school for white girls and not long after a school just for black children, in 1882 a dance school, in the late 1880’s it was the home and place of death for Jules Vignie, in late 1890’s it became apartments for Italian immigrants, and it was also a bar and a furniture store, now it is luxurious apartments. During renovations over the years many human bones have been found buried in different parts of the house and grounds.

Madame LaLaurie is said to haunt the house and is still evil. Many ghosts of the slaves are seen especially in the attic and a black man in chains on the stairs and different noises and screams have been heard. Also people who have been in or close to the house have reported feeling sick and faint.