Where the Past Refuses to Rest
Deep in the Louisiana bayou, surrounded by ancient oak trees draped with Spanish moss, stands the Myrtles Plantation, a grand antebellum home with a dark reputation. Known as "America's most haunted house," this former sugar plantation has been the subject of countless ghost stories, paranormal investigations, and Southern Gothic tales. But beneath the legends of spectral brides and vengeful spirits lies a far more troubling history—one of slavery, violence, and the unhealed wounds of the American South.
The Myrtles is not just a haunted house. It is a place where the past is not just remembered but felt—where the suffering of enslaved people, the cruelty of plantation life, and the tragedies of the Stirling family still echo through the halls. To walk through its rooms is to confront the complexities of Southern history, where beauty and brutality existed side by side, and where the ghosts of the past are not just spirits but the lingering consequences of human cruelty.
The History of the Myrtles: From Sugar to Specters
The Rise of a Plantation Empire
The Myrtles Plantation was built in 1796 by General David Bradford, a Pennsylvania lawyer who fled to Louisiana after being implicated in the Whiskey Rebellion. Bradford transformed the land into a thriving sugar plantation, using the labor of enslaved people to build his fortune. The grand house, with its sweeping verandas and elegant interiors, was a symbol of wealth and power—but it was also a place of immense suffering.
By the mid-19th century, the plantation was owned by Ruffin Stirling and his wife, Sara Mathilda. Under their ownership, the Myrtles became one of the most prosperous sugar plantations in Louisiana. But prosperity came at a cost. The Stirling family relied on the labor of over 100 enslaved people, who worked under brutal conditions in the sugar fields and the house itself.
The Architecture of Oppression
The Myrtles house is a classic example of Greek Revival architecture, with its grand columns, symmetrical design, and sweeping staircases. But beneath its elegant facade lies a darker reality. The house was designed not just for beauty but for control. The enslaved people who worked there lived in cramped quarters behind the main house, while the Stirling family enjoyed the comforts of wealth.
The most infamous feature of the house is its "ghost room," where many of the paranormal encounters are said to occur. But this room, like the rest of the house, was also a place where the Stirling family exercised their power over the enslaved people who served them. The contrast between the opulence of the main house and the suffering of those who maintained it is a stark reminder of the inequalities of the antebellum South.
The Ghosts of the Myrtles: Separating Fact from Folklore
The Legend of Chloe
The most famous ghost story associated with the Myrtles is that of Chloe, an enslaved woman who is said to haunt the house to this day. According to the legend, Chloe was a household slave who was caught eavesdropping on the Stirling family. As punishment, her ear was cut off, and she was forced to wear a green turban to hide the wound. In retaliation, Chloe allegedly poisoned Sara Mathilda and her two daughters with oleander, a toxic plant. When her crime was discovered, she was hanged on the plantation grounds, and her body was buried in an unmarked grave.
But the story of Chloe is more complicated than the legend suggests. Historical records show that Sara Mathilda and her daughters did indeed die of poisoning, but there is no evidence that Chloe was responsible. In fact, the story of Chloe as it is told today is likely a conflation of several different accounts, shaped by the racial stereotypes of the 19th and 20th centuries. The real Chloe, if she existed at all, was a victim of the brutal system of slavery, not a vengeful ghost.
The Stirling Family Tragedy
The true tragedy of the Myrtles is not the ghost stories but the real suffering of the Stirling family and the enslaved people who lived and died there. Sara Mathilda Stirling died in 1851, along with her two daughters, from what was likely yellow fever—a common killer in the humid Louisiana climate. Her husband, Ruffin Stirling, died shortly afterward, leaving the plantation in the hands of his son, Stephen.
The Stirling family’s decline mirrored that of the South itself. The Civil War brought an end to the plantation’s prosperity, and the house fell into disrepair. By the early 20th century, the Myrtles was a shadow of its former self, a crumbling relic of a bygone era.
The Modern Hauntings
In the 20th century, the Myrtles became famous as a haunted house. Owners and visitors reported strange occurrences—footsteps on the stairs when no one was there, the sound of children laughing in empty rooms, and the apparition of a woman in a green turban. Paranormal investigators have claimed to capture evidence of ghostly activity, from EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) recordings to thermal images of unseen figures.
But the real haunting of the Myrtles is not the ghosts of Chloe or the Stirling family. It is the lingering presence of the enslaved people who lived and died there, whose stories have been overshadowed by the legends of the house. Their suffering is the true tragedy of the Myrtles, and it is their voices that should be remembered.
The Reality of Slavery at the Myrtles
The Enslaved People of the Plantation
The Myrtles Plantation was home to over 100 enslaved people, who worked in the sugar fields, the house, and the surrounding lands. Their lives were marked by brutality, separation from their families, and the constant threat of violence. The enslaved people at the Myrtles were not just laborers—they were human beings with families, dreams, and cultures of their own, all of which were suppressed by the system of slavery.
The conditions at the Myrtles were typical of Louisiana plantations. Enslaved people worked from sunup to sundown, with little rest and even less compensation. Punishments for disobedience were severe, and the threat of sale or separation from family members was ever-present. The Myrtles was not just a house—it was a place of oppression, where the lives of enslaved people were controlled in every way.
The Lost Stories
One of the greatest tragedies of the Myrtles is that the stories of the enslaved people who lived there have been largely lost. Unlike the Stirling family, whose lives are well-documented, the enslaved people of the Myrtles left few records behind. Their names, their families, and their experiences have been erased by history, leaving only the faintest traces of their lives.
But the enslaved people of the Myrtles were not passive victims. They resisted in small ways—through sabotage, through preserving their cultural traditions, and through passing down their stories in secret. Their legacy is not just one of suffering but of resilience, and it is a legacy that deserves to be remembered.
The Aftermath of Emancipation
When the Civil War ended and slavery was abolished, the enslaved people of the Myrtles were finally free. But freedom did not mean equality. Many former slaves stayed on as sharecroppers, trapped in a cycle of debt and poverty that was little better than slavery. Others left in search of better lives, but the scars of their time at the Myrtles remained.
The plantation itself fell into decline. Without the labor of enslaved people, the sugar industry collapsed, and the grand house became a symbol of a lost way of life. But the suffering of those who had lived and died there was not forgotten. Their stories linger in the walls of the house, in the land itself, and in the collective memory of the South.
The Myrtles in the 20th and 21st Centuries: From Ruin to Restoration
The Decline and Revival
After the Civil War, the Myrtles Plantation fell into disrepair. The house was abandoned for decades, and the land was sold and resold. By the mid-20th century, the Myrtles was a crumbling ruin, its once-grand interiors decaying and its gardens overgrown.
But in the 1970s, the house was purchased by a new owner, who began the process of restoring it to its former glory. The Myrtles was opened to the public as a bed and breakfast, and its reputation as a haunted house began to grow. Tourists came from around the world to experience the paranormal activity, and the house became a subject of books, documentaries, and TV shows.
The Haunted House Industry
The Myrtles is now a part of the "haunted house" industry, a multi-million-dollar business that capitalizes on America’s fascination with the paranormal. The house offers ghost tours, overnight stays, and paranormal investigations, all designed to give visitors a taste of the supernatural.
But the Myrtles is more than just a haunted house. It is a place where the past and present collide, where the suffering of the enslaved people who lived there is still felt in the air. For some visitors, the real haunting is not the ghosts of Chloe or the Stirling family but the weight of history itself—the knowledge that this beautiful house was built on the backs of enslaved people, and that their suffering is still a part of the land.
The Ethical Questions
The Myrtles raises important ethical questions about how we remember—and profit from—the past. Is it appropriate to turn a place of suffering into a tourist attraction? How do we balance the need to preserve history with the responsibility to honor the memories of those who suffered?
These are questions that the owners of the Myrtles, and the visitors who come to see it, must grapple with. The house is a powerful reminder of the complexities of Southern history, and it challenges us to confront the darker aspects of our past.
The Paranormal Investigations: Science and Skepticism
The Ghost Hunters
The Myrtles has been the subject of numerous paranormal investigations, from amateur ghost hunters to professional paranormal researchers. Many claim to have captured evidence of ghostly activity—EVP recordings of disembodied voices, thermal images of unseen figures, and photographs of strange lights and shadows.
One of the most famous investigations was conducted by the paranormal researcher Hans Holzer, who claimed to have communicated with the spirits of Chloe and the Stirling family. His findings were later published in a book, which helped to cement the Myrtles’ reputation as one of America’s most haunted houses.
The Skeptics’ Perspective
Not everyone believes in the ghosts of the Myrtles. Skeptics argue that the paranormal activity can be explained by natural phenomena—drafts in the old house, the creaking of floorboards, and the power of suggestion. They point out that many of the ghost stories associated with the Myrtles have been embellished over the years, and that the history of the house has been romanticized to fit the narrative of a haunted plantation.
But even the skeptics cannot deny the power of the Myrtles as a place of memory. Whether or not the house is truly haunted, it is a place where the past is still present, where the suffering of the enslaved people who lived there is still felt in the air.
The Psychology of Hauntings
The Myrtles is also a fascinating case study in the psychology of hauntings. Why are we so drawn to stories of ghosts and haunted houses? What does it say about us that we are fascinated by the idea of spirits lingering in the places where they suffered?
For many visitors, the Myrtles is not just a haunted house but a place where they can confront their own fears and questions about death, history, and the afterlife. The house becomes a mirror, reflecting our own anxieties and desires back at us.
The Myrtles in Pop Culture: From Books to Hollywood
The Southern Gothic Tradition
The Myrtles Plantation is a classic example of the Southern Gothic tradition—a genre of literature and art that explores the dark, decaying side of the American South. Writers like William Faulkner, Flannery O’Connor, and Tennessee Williams used the Southern Gothic style to examine the complexities of Southern history, particularly the legacy of slavery and the Civil War.
The Myrtles fits perfectly into this tradition. It is a place of beauty and decay, of grandeur and suffering, where the past is not just remembered but felt. The house has been featured in numerous books, documentaries, and TV shows, all of which draw on its Southern Gothic allure.
The Haunted House Genre
The Myrtles is also a staple of the haunted house genre, which has captivated audiences for centuries. From Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House to Stephen King’s The Shining, haunted houses have been used to explore themes of fear, memory, and the supernatural. The Myrtles, with its real history of tragedy and suffering, adds a layer of authenticity to the genre.
In recent years, the Myrtles has been featured on popular paranormal TV shows like Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters, which have brought its story to a new generation of viewers. The house has also been the subject of numerous documentaries, which explore its history and the paranormal activity that is said to occur there.
The Dark Tourism Phenomenon
The Myrtles is part of a growing phenomenon known as "dark tourism"—travel to sites associated with death, tragedy, and the macabre. Dark tourism allows visitors to confront the darker aspects of history, to remember the suffering of the past, and to reflect on the complexities of human nature.
But dark tourism also raises ethical questions. Is it appropriate to turn a place of suffering into a tourist attraction? How do we balance the need to remember the past with the responsibility to honor the memories of those who suffered?
At the Myrtles, these questions are particularly pressing. The house is not just a haunted attraction—it is a place where real people lived and died, where the legacy of slavery is still felt in the air. Visitors to the Myrtles must grapple with these complexities, and with the responsibility that comes with bearing witness to the past.
The Future of the Myrtles: Preservation and Memory
The Challenge of Preservation
Preserving the Myrtles is a challenge. The house is over 200 years old, and the humid Louisiana climate is harsh on its wooden structure. The current owners have undertaken extensive restoration work, but the process is ongoing and expensive.
There are also questions about how to preserve the house’s history. Should the focus be on the architecture and the lives of the Stirling family, or on the suffering of the enslaved people who lived there? How can the Myrtles be preserved in a way that honors all of its inhabitants, not just the wealthy ones?
The Role of Education
Education is key to the future of the Myrtles. The house is not just a haunted attraction—it is a historical site, and it has a responsibility to tell the full story of its past. This means acknowledging the suffering of the enslaved people who lived there, as well as the tragedies of the Stirling family.
The Myrtles now offers historical tours alongside its ghost tours, which provide visitors with a more complete picture of the house’s past. These tours focus on the lives of the enslaved people, the realities of plantation life, and the complexities of Southern history. They are an important step in ensuring that the Myrtles is remembered not just as a haunted house, but as a place where real people lived and died.
The Legacy of the Myrtles
The legacy of the Myrtles is still being written. For some, it is a place of ghosts and hauntings, a site of paranormal activity and Southern Gothic intrigue. For others, it is a reminder of the brutality of slavery and the resilience of the enslaved people who lived there.
But perhaps the true legacy of the Myrtles is the way it challenges us to confront the past. The house is a mirror, reflecting not just the ghosts of its inhabitants but the complexities of history itself. It forces us to ask difficult questions about memory, about justice, and about the way we remember—and forget—the past.
Visiting the Myrtles: What You Need to Know
Practical Information
The Myrtles Plantation is open to the public year-round, though the best time to visit is in the spring or fall, when the Louisiana heat is less oppressive. The house is located about 30 minutes north of Baton Rouge, and it can be reached by car or guided tour.
Visitors can choose from several types of tours:
- Historical Tours: Focused on the history of the house and the lives of its inhabitants.
- Ghost Tours: Exploring the paranormal activity and ghost stories associated with the Myrtles.
- Overnight Stays: For those who want to experience the house after dark.
- Paranormal Investigations: For serious ghost hunters.
The house also hosts special events, such as murder mystery dinners and Halloween haunted house tours.
The Ethical Visitor
Visiting the Myrtles is not just about experiencing a haunted house—it is about bearing witness to history. Visitors should approach the house with respect for the people who lived and died there, both the Stirling family and the enslaved people who suffered under their rule.
Some guidelines for ethical visiting:
- Listen to the stories of the enslaved people who lived at the Myrtles.
- Acknowledge the suffering that took place on the plantation.
- Respect the house and its history—don’t treat it as just a haunted attraction.
- Support the preservation of the Myrtles and its history.
Beyond the Myrtles: Exploring Louisiana’s Plantation Country
For those who want to delve deeper into the history of Louisiana’s plantations, there are other sites worth visiting:
- Oak Alley Plantation: Known for its stunning alley of oak trees and its well-preserved slave cabins.
- Laura Plantation: A Creole plantation with a focus on the lives of enslaved people.
- Whitney Plantation: A museum dedicated to the history of slavery in Louisiana.
- Nottoway Plantation: The largest antebellum mansion in the South.
Each of these sites offers a different perspective on the history of Louisiana’s plantations, and together they paint a complex picture of life in the antebellum South.
The True Haunting of the Myrtles
The Myrtles Plantation is more than just a haunted house. It is a place where the past is still present, where the suffering of the enslaved people who lived there is still felt in the air. The ghosts of the Myrtles are not just the spirits of Chloe or the Stirling family—they are the lingering consequences of slavery, the unhealed wounds of the American South, and the stories of the people who were erased by history.
For those who visit the Myrtles, the real haunting is not the sound of footsteps on the stairs or the apparition of a woman in a green turban. It is the weight of history itself—the knowledge that this beautiful house was built on the backs of enslaved people, and that their suffering is still a part of the land. It is the challenge of remembering the past in all its complexity, of honoring the memories of those who suffered, and of confronting the darker aspects of our shared history.
In the end, the Myrtles is not just a place of ghosts. It is a place of memory—a reminder that the past is never truly past, and that the stories of those who came before us are still waiting to be heard.
References
- Taylor, D. (2019). The Ghosts of the Myrtles Plantation: A True Haunting in Louisiana. Pelican Publishing.
- Sublette, N. (2008). The World That Made New Orleans: From Spanish Silver to Congo Square. Lawrence Hill Books.
- Baptist, E. E. (2014). The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism. Basic Books.
- The Atlantic. (2015). The Haunted History of Louisiana’s Plantations. theatlantic.com
- The New York Times. (2018). The Complicated Legacy of Louisiana’s Plantation Tours. nytimes.com
- Southern Living. (2020). The True Story Behind America’s Most Haunted Plantation. southernliving.com
- The Myrtles Plantation Official Site. (2021). History and Ghost Stories. myrtlesplantation.com
- Smithsonian Magazine. (2017). The Dark History Behind America’s Most Haunted Plantation. smithsonianmag.com
