Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop | Haunted Bourbon Street

Posted: 12.13.2024 | Updated: 01.14.2025

On the corner of Bourbon Street and St. Phillip Street, an enduring building sits. Known as one of the oldest structures in New Orleans and the oldest structure currently operating as a bar in the U.S., this time-honored building looks almost as if its appearance has never changed since its origins in the 18th century. 

Exposed brick masonry, wooden beams, candlelight, and creaky floorboards only add to the allure of this historic haunt, as do the spirits that linger here still. Its legends are inextricably tied to the history of New Orleans, intersecting closely with the town’s famed smuggler-turned-patriot, Jean Lafitte.

New Orleans’ haunted history is remarkably colorful, with Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Bar being just one of its many ghostly draws. Keen to hear more about the vivid tapestry of New Orleans’ rich yet strange history? Join a walking ghost tour with NOLA Ghosts. 

Who Haunts Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Bar?

Although many spirits are said to haunt this Creole colonial-style building, the most famous is its namesake. A historical figure whose actions are as murky as the Louisiana waterways he once traveled, Jean Lafitte remains a man who is difficult to peg down. His spirit said to haunt Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, is equally as elusive. And yet, he is rumored to be just one of multiple spirits that frequent this legendary drinking hole.

Centuries of History

Numerous tales revolve around the history of Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Bar. Many call the legends surrounding the storied property a medley of truth and embellishment, intertwining flourishes from French, African, Cajun, and Spanish cultures.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is a structure that is so old its exact origin cannot be known. The building is thought to have been built sometime between 1722 and 1732 by Nicolas Touze in a blend of French Provincial Louis XV and Briquette-entre-poteaux architectural styles. The building featured a slate roof, an asset that would come to save it from destruction by not one but two fires occurring near the turn of the 19th century. 

In the later portion of the 18th century, the property was reputed to have been used by the Lafitte brothers as a base for their smuggling activities in New Orleans. It is thought that brothers Jean and Pierre used the building between 1772 and 1791 to vend their illegally acquired wares.

This tale stems from those who owned the property at the time: the family of Simon Duroche, also known as Castillon, along with privateer Captain Rene Beluche. Beluche was a known associate of Pierre Lafitte, having commanded a ship in Lafitte’s flotilla. Given this, many believe the property to be a likely location for negotiations with prospective buyers in his smuggling trade. 

The venue wouldn’t become a bar until the early 1900s, only obtaining a liquor license in 1933. Before this time, it held many guises, existing as a residence, workshop, and even an ice cream parlor at one point. 

The Ghost of Jean Lafitte 

Considering Lafitte’s title as the oldest building in the country operating as a bar, it’s no curiosity that it contains a few ghostly tales. 

Several bar patrons have told stories of seeing an apparition standing in the shadowy corners of this classic watering hole. The figure, a man, appears to observe the room and its occupants before vanishing.

Many assume this to be the specter of Jean Lafitte, perhaps simply overseeing operations within his old haunt as he did once before. Or maybe Lafitte lingers to protect something of his own. Many New Orleans residents will tell you that Lafitte buried his treasure somewhere within the bar — or in the fireplace, as some tales go. 

Many legends surround Jean Lafitte. Considered both a pirate and a patriot, it is not known when he was born or when he moved to Louisiana. What he did before becoming involved with the smuggling operation in Baratari is also unknown. 

Lafitte blamed American laws for his illegal operation. When the United States outlawed trade with Great Britain and France, the merchants of New Orleans soon found themselves depleted of wares to sell. During this period, it also became illegal to bring enslaved people to Louisiana from Africa. Lafitte smuggled both into Louisiana through his smuggling operation via the Baratian waterways. 

Lafitte later transitioned from pirate to patriot, assisting the United States in their conflict against the British. His comprehensive knowledge of Louisiana waterways and familiarity as a gunner played a prominent role in the victory of the Battle of New Orleans.

A Bar Laden with More Than One Kind of Spirits

Other unexplained happenings have added to the charm of this Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Bar. Those absorbing the atmosphere of this historic venue have experienced unexplained sounds, abrupt cold spots, and the smell of tobacco, even though no smokers can be found. 

But Lafitte is not the only spirit rumored to haunt this timeless establishment. There exists another entity, much more sinister in nature. Upon staring into the fireplace, multiple guests have claimed to witness two floating, glowing red eyes that pierce their gaze and permeate one’s very soul. Many tie these malevolent eyes to a demonic haunting.

Bar-goers have also reported this force to secure their attention by moving drinks or tipping over their beverages. Although these occurrences may seem innocuous, those soul-puncturing eyes say otherwise. 

Still, older sightings have been recorded as well. It has been said that the upstairs area was once rented out to a woman in the late 19th century who later died by suicide. Guests have encountered her spirit, who appears to be quite vocal. 

Multiple guests have reported her presence late at night, pressed close to them, whispering in their ears. Others attest the bar is haunted by the residents of the French Quarter who perished in the fires of 1788 and 1794. 

The infamous fire of 1788 started one afternoon in March. Mighty winds fed the flames, and the blaze destroyed 856 of the 1,100 buildings in New Orleans, many fashioned from wood. A short six years later, another fire would destroy less, still consuming 200 buildings, many of which had just recently been rebuilt. 

Many died in these blazes, although Lafitte’s historic building stood strong, thanks, in part, to its durable slate roof. Might those who perished in the inferno seek shelter here in the afterlife? 

Haunted New Orleans

Today, the bar at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, offers a variety of spirits along with its drinks. Come and sip on their signature voodoo daiquiri and revel in the simple pleasures of this historic establishment. Perhaps you’ll be joined by a special guest.  

For more tales of the uncanny and haunted locations, visit our blog or follow us on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. Looking to see more of what the Crescent City has to offer fans of the strange and otherworldly? Book one of our New Orleans ghost tours and descend down a haunted history walk with NOLA Ghosts. 

Sources:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lafittes-blacksmith-shop

https://www.wate.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/644832942/unveiling-the-mystique-of-lafittes-blacksmith-shop-bar-a-toast-to-new-orleans-haunting-history

https://www.lafittesblacksmithshop.com/AboutUs.html

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop – A Very New Orleans History

Is Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop the oldest bar in the country? New Orleans Truths vs. Tales

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/food/louisiana/oldest-most-haunted-bars-la

https://www.nps.gov/jela/learn/historyculture/jean-lafitte-history-mystery.htm

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradjaphe/2020/08/20/is-this-the-worlds-most-haunted-bar

https://www.hnoc.org/publications/first-draft/new-video-shows-how-fires-1788-and-1794-changed-new-orleans