User:Raegannicoleee/NO Historic Voodoo Museum

New Orleans, Louisiana is one of the top tourists spots as well as a historical melting pot. One of the things that New Orleans is known for is the practice of the Voodoo religion, one place that can tell you a lot about the history of Voodoo is the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum located on Dumaine Street in the French Quarter. This museum has a unique history but tells the story of Voodoo in New Orleans, there also are other places that can be visited all over the city that can give you a historic Voodoo experience.The museum is located on Dumaine Street which is about 14 ft above sea level located between the streets of St. Ann street and St. Phillip in the heart of the French Quarter.

History and Location of the Museum
In 1972 the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum was thought of and created by 2 creole brothers Jerry and Charles Gandolfo, who had heard about voodoo stories all their lives and wanted to recreate them. During the 1791 slave rebellion in Haiti, a slave hid members of the Gandolfo family and aided their escape to New Orleans. One of those rescued was the grandmother, who, it turned out, was an eighteenth century Voodoo Queen and that is how the family began their ties to Voodoo. The pair was joined by a Voodoo priest, John T. Martin, who worked as a guide at the museum. Originally there would be around 120,000 visitors annually, however with the death of Charlie Gandolfo “Voodoo Charlie” in 2001 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the museum has taken a dive in attendance records about 90 percent to about 12,000 visitors annually.

The beginning exhibits were “artifacts of varying authenticity” such as “horse jaw rattles, strings of garlic, statues of the Virgin Mary, yards of Mardi Gras beads, alligator heads, a clay “govi” jar for storing souls, and the wooden kneeling board allegedly used by the greatest voodoo queen of all: New Orleans’ own Marie Laveau.”.

Dumaine Street
When the countries of France and Spain would switch control of New Orleans the name changed a few times. Dumaine street was originally named after duc du Maine, who was an illegitimate son of King Louis IV. When the end of Spanish rule was near the street became known as calle de los Almances (Magazine Street). However, when the French returned to Maine street. When America took over the land then the street became known as Dumaine Street. Dumaine Street stretches to about 4.1 miles or 6.6 kilometers.

History of New Orleans Voodoo
Voodoo was introduced into New Orleans in the early 1700s with Africa' western slave trade. The religion of Voodoo became one of the dominant religions infused with Catholicism. It became a Voodoo- Catholicism hybrid that is known today as New Orleans Voodoo. Being so that these religions are a hybrid there has become many key similarities such as Legba and St. Peter; Legba controls the gates to the spirit world and St. Peter who controls heavens gates.

A key part of the original Voodoo religion was Madam Laveau who was a priestess who was very good friends with a Catholic priest. People would come to Madam Laveau with many problems whether spiritual or financially or even just needing advice people have visited Madam Laveau with their problems and some peoples still visit her grave to give an offering and they ask for help spiritually.

Voodoo in New Orleans Today
Today the practice of Voodoo is known as Hoodoo which is non religious belief of Vooddoo. People who practice hoodoo work with a number of tools, such as candles, curios, and, of course, roots and herbs. Ancestor veneration is particularly important. Movies often show hoodoo as dark and harmful, but most of the work we do is concerned with healing and protection. Unlike Voodoo, there is a belief in spirits and life-giving energies, there are no specific gods or god that you must follow. You are free to worship any gods (or not) that you want. There is no organized hierarchy. This isn’t to say there are no rules to working with roots—there are, but it does not have the specific structure associated with religion.

There are a number of changes in the Voodoo museum today as well.The museum’s website lists the services and activities offered today as Museum walkthroughs, to see artifacts that may be some of the original ones still there; Cemetery Tours, to the nearby St. Louis cemetery to see the tomb of Madam Laveau; Readers and Practitioners, which are psychic readings, consultations and rituals and ceremonies; and Academic Research and Media Assistance, the museum help students excel in their projects

== Other Voodoo Places to Visit in New Orleans ==


 * Intuitions: French Quarter
 * The place of Catherina Williams who has been practicing psychic arts for five decades. Preistess Williams practices Vedic astrology, aura/chakra, crystal ball gazing, pet readings and Creole bone reading
 * Reverend Zombie's House of Voodoo: French Quarter
 * This place sells is said to be "walking the fine line between authentic Voodoo and selling kitschy souvenirs". This place sells souvenirs as well as dolls, potions, amulets, all matters of spiritual supplies including books. There are also items that reflect the memory of Marie Laveau.
 * Marie Laveau House of Voodoo: French Quarter
 * This place gives more information about the historical and spiritual significance of the religion and woman who helped revive it in the city.
 * The Voodoo Bone Lady Voodoo Shop: Central Business District (CBD)
 * One of the most popular Voodoo spots with a "self descrived psychic, Voodoo priestess, holistic healer, medium and success/life coach".