On Sept. 29, season two of “Interview With The Vampire” was uploaded to Netflix for its expecting and excited audiences. The story, written by Anne Rice, is deeply connected to Louisiana and its history, but many may not know the ‘real’ history of vampires, especially those who hail from Louisiana.
Vampires have existed in many forms throughout history, from Ancient Greece to African folklore, as beings that drain the blood of humans and obtain supernatural abilities. Ideas and stories surrounding vampires have existed forever, but it wasn’t until the early 19th century that vampire stories caught on in literature.
John William Polidori’s “The Vampyre,” is known as the first published vampire story. The short story was inspired by Lord Byron, a famous romanticist writer and well-known rake at the time. “The Vampyre” follows a man named Aubrey as he becomes acquainted with Lord Ruthven, a charming man who is revealed to be a ruthless vampire.
Over 50 years later, “Carmilla,” was published — a story about a girl who befriends a new woman in town, who turns out to be a vampire. These and more all lead to the pinnacle of historical vampire novels: Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”
Stories like these shaped how the world saw vampires — creatures that used to be human and can only withstand the night, or monsters who drank human blood and tricked the innocent. In Louisiana, there are many legends surrounding vampires, some of which even predate these famous books.
The Casket Girls are an old legend from when New Orleans was first being settled in the 18th century. At the time, most of the population of Louisiana were men from France developing the new colony, but eventually they wanted wives. Many young women were sent from France to Louisiana to marry these men.
Between their arrival and marriage, most of these French women would stay with the Ursuline Sisters in their convent. However, after months at sea, many of them were pale and sickly. The women also brought with them boxes that looked like caskets to some. The legend states that these girls were either hiding vampires or were vampires themselves. They supposedly used the caskets as protection from sunlight during their journey to the Americas.
Another bone-chilling tale of Louisiana vampires is that of the Carter Brothers. In the 1930s, there was a young girl who went for help from the police. She claimed that two men tried to kidnap her and alleged that the pair were holding prisoners and drinking their blood. The police allegedly thought this was a strange thing for a child to say, but they followed her to the home of the Carter brothers.
The police shockingly found several victims in the brothers’ New Orleans home. The legend changes depending on who is telling it, but most stories claim they were either executed for their crimes, or they mysteriously disappeared and haven’t been seen since.
Tales about vampires have skyrocketed in popularity in the decades since. New Orleans native Anne Rice published “Interview with The Vampire” in April of 1976, and for the first time, a novel about New Orleans vampires lived in the imagination of millions. In 1994, Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise starred in a film adaptation of the book, and in 2022, the book received a reboot with AMC’s “Interview with The Vampire.” The show changed the time period and embedded Louisiana into more of the story.
Another popular vampire-themed show is “The Originals,” released back in 2013. A sequel to the “Vampire Diaries,” the show was set mainly in the French Quarter and follows Klaus, a vampire-werewolf hybrid, as he returns home to New Orleans.
A more recent appearance of vampire media set in New Orleans in the 2023 film “Renfield.” Starring Nicholas Hoult and Nick Cage, the horror-comedy follows Dracula’s loyal assistant Renfield as he learns his own worth in the modern day and grows apart from Dracula. Dracula and his companion move into the well-known and abandoned Charity Hospital in New Orleans.
A new pair of brothers connected to Louisiana and vampires appeared this year. In April of 2025, Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” was released. Though it was set in Mississippi, “Sinners” was filmed in Louisiana, about an hour away from New Orleans. The connection to Louisiana, vampires and anything gothic is still present within the film.
The vampiric theme of Louisiana doesn’t just come from media set in the city. All across New Orleans, there are the stereotypical ghost tours, gothic stores and historical attractions. The world-famous Vampire Cafe resides on Royal Street in New Orleans. The themed restaurant serves quite a few vampiric meals, including a variety of red-tinted drinks dubbed “blood bags.”
Right next door is the Boutique Du Vampyre apothecary, where one can buy plenty of vampire-themed memorabilia, history books and gifts. In this store, one can also get tarot readings and custom-made fangs. There is also a vampire speakeasy deep within the city that is a great time if you can get the secret entrance code.
Vampires in Louisiana extend past just a book and television series. Stories of vampires in Louisiana go back hundreds of years and come from a long tradition of storytelling. Due to these legends, New Orleans has become known around the country as the home for many American vampires.
