In New Orleans, many families bury their dead above ground, due to the swampy terrain.
The 42 fabled cemeteries in New Orleans have drawn tourists from across the globe to experience the rows of elaborate, centuries-old tombs in a city that often buries its dead above ground for fear of flooding. Fifteen of the cemeteries feature the above-ground burial practice. Many New Orleans businesses offer guided cemetery tours, but anyone with a map and a mode of transportation may locate these visually stunning graveyards, often called "Cities of the Dead," during proper hours of operation.
Instructions
1. New Orleans' oldest cemetery is St. Louis No. 1, which is believed to hold the remains of Voodoo queen Marie Laveau.
Buy a full city map of New Orleans, which will direct you to many of the oldest cemeteries. Many websites list the addresses, but if you are new to this unique city, filled with narrow streets and built to follow the curve of the Mississippi River, bring along a map.
2. This 2010 photograph offers an aerial view of St. Louis No. 1 cemetery near downtown New Orleans.
Visit the city's oldest cemetery, St. Louis No. 1, located in the Treme neighborhood at 1300 St. Louis St. and bordered by Basin Street. This cemetery dates back to 1789 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Located downtown by the Iberville public housing development and two blocks from the French Quarter, St. Louis No. 1 is the final resting place of many of New Orleans' society families. It also is believed to hold the burial spot of Voodoo queen Marie Laveau, whose alleged crypt is marked by X's left by visitors over the years -- marks considered vandalism by the family that owns the tomb. Cemetery hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sundays.
3. Check out St. Louis No. 2 cemetery, created in 1823, where the tomb of Marie Laveau's daughter and namesake is believed to rest; however, like her mother's burial place, this is widely debated. Many believe the "Marie Laveau" tomb in St. Louis No. 2 is another voodoo priestess named "Marie," who is of no relation. St. Louis No. 2 takes up three square blocks and is bounded by North Claiborne Avenue, St. Louis Street, North Robertson Street and Iberville Street. Local musician Ernie K. "Mother-in-Law" Doe is buried here, along with an infamous pirate named Dominique You. The cemetery is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sundays.
4. A rare snowfall in New Orleans coated the tombs in one above-ground cemetery.
Consider visiting Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, organized in 1833, if you prefer to wander alone in a New Orleans graveyard. This cemetery is located across the street from famed restaurant the Commander's Palace in the Garden District of New Orleans, one of the city's safer and well-populated neighborhoods. About 2,000 yellow fever victims were buried in Lafayette during the 1850s. This cemetery is on the 1400 block of Washington Avenue, surrounded by mansions, and was the first planned cemetery in New Orleans. Lafayette is a backdrop in films such as "Easy Rider" and "Interview With the Vampire." Its hours are 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
5. Escape the congestion of downtown and visit the St. Louis No. 3 Cemetery, which is at 3421 Esplanade Ave. in the Esplanade Ridge neighborhood of New Orleans. This easily is the most accessible of the historic above-ground cemeteries in New Orleans, with off-street parking and a great location right on the Esplanade city bus route. This cemetery is bordered by Moss Street, which runs parallel with the bayou. It is just a few blocks from the fairgrounds, where for one long week in the spring, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival takes over the neighborhood. The cemetery is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sunday.
