The Casket Girls of New Orleans: Vampire Legend or Dark Colonial History?

In 1728, a group of young women arrived in New Orleans carrying small wooden chests known as cassettes—but over time, their story evolved into one of the city’s most chilling legends. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we explore the real history behind the Casket Girls of New Orleans and how it became tied to vampire lore.Sent from France to stabilize the early colony, these women were housed at the historic Ursuline Convent, one of the oldest buildings in the Mississippi Valley. Historical records confirm their arrival, their role in colonial society, and the structured marriages that followed.But over time, language shifted—cassettes became “caskets”—and the story took on a darker tone. Local legend claims the convent’s third-floor windows were sealed to contain something brought over with the girls. While historians attribute the closed shutters to preservation and architecture, visitors continue to report eerie sensations, shadowy movement, and unexplained sounds near the upper levels.Is it just folklore built on misunderstood history… or something more?This episode blends documented colonial records, linguistic evolution, and modern accounts to explore one of New Orleans’ most fascinating and mysterious legends.Because sometimes history changes…and sometimes it transforms into something else entirely.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support.🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?Submit your ideas for The Strange History PodcastFollow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:Apple PodcastsSpotifyiHeartRadioAudibleNew episodes regularly. History gets weird here.