Insider's Listing of New Orleans' Cemeteries
More cemeteries being added soon
Key to the listings
Table of Contents
Carrollton Cemetery
Carrollton is the only racially segregated cemetery in New Orleans history. There were those broken out by religious beliefs (Catholics given the place of honor, always), but in death all were seen to be equal.
But Carrollton was far outside of the French sections of town and American views held sway. Working class whites built tombs on one side of the road, poor blacks dug pauper's graves on the other.
For lots more info on Carrollton including maps, hours and photos, visit my Hub here!
Charity Hospital Cemetery/Hurricane Katrina Memorial
Charity Hospital Cemetery is unique in the city of New Orleans- there are no marked graves, and the only tombs are those of unclaimed victims of Hurricane Katrina.
That doesn't mean it's vacant though- estimates are that between 100,000 and 150,000 people are anonymously buried on this quiet strip of land.
To find out more about this cemetery, visit the Charity Hospital Cemetery page.
Cypress Grove Cemetery
The Fireman’s Charitable and Benevolent Association founded Cypress Grove in 1840 to honor its members, and it contains several tombs honoring volunteer firefighting companies around the city. It also boasts the only Chinese burial altar in the city, and many of the prominent Protestants of the day.
The cemetery as a whole is in a state of disrepair- particularly the wall vaults, which are falling apart- but it makes for a picturesque walk well worth the streetcar ride!
Lafayette Cemetery No.1
The second most visited cemetery in New Orleans, Lafayette is named after the township it was originally a part of. Absorbed in New Orleans, it's now part of the famous Garden District neighborhood, full of breathtaking homes.
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is only a block away from the St. Charles Streetcar, and directly across the street from one of the top restaurants in the city- Commander's Palace.
More information and photos can be found here.
Lakelawn Metairie Cemetery
Named by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 10 cemeteries to aspire to, this vast graveyard was originally a horse race course, and maintains its original ovoid shape. Every graceful curve has an amazing construction to see, and an even more amazing story to tell.
Inside are many of the rich and powerful families of the city both past and present, including mayors, governors, Confederate elite, businessmen, gangsters and artists!
Because of its size, it's practically impossible to see on foot, so a rental car is a necessity, although there does seem to be a tour group that's begun taking a bus through a few times a day.
More information and photos can be found here.
St. Louis No. 1
Established in 1789, St. Louis No. 1 is the oldest cemetery still in existence (and use!) in New Orleans. It holds the remains of many colorful and notable citizens, including politicians, land barons, and infamous Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau.
Sitting just outside the French Quarter, it is the cemetery visitors are most familiar with and there are dozens of tour groups that pass through daily.
With so many people around during daylight hours (it closes at 3:30), the cemetery is quite safe, but next door are dangerous housing projects, so stay away after dark. Besides, with its thick brick tomb/walls all around there's nothing to see at night, so stay away and stay safe.
For more information and photos, visit the full page here!
St, Louis No. 3
Opened in 1854 to address cemetery overcrowding due to Yellow Fever epidemics, this site is where the old leper colony was in the city.
Although it's quite a way from the French Quarter, there are bus tours that visit the cemetery, and once you're there you can see the major sites by foot, or you can take the City Park streetcar, and walk the few blocks to the cemetery.
For more information, read all about it here!
St. Roch Cemetery & Shrine
Although out of the way, the cemetery is amazing more for its shrine to its patron saint than anything else.
Crutches, busts and other offerings are left in praise of St. Roch, the patron saint of dogs, pestilence and plague.
One of the best tended, cleanest cemeteries in the city, it is unfortunately in a bad area. If you decide to go, please be careful and go in a group.
