It ended up being a monsoon shortly after getting there. A very lovely lady warned us to "hold on…read moreto your pocketbooks" as the neighborhood is not good( and we are not pasty suburbanites !). The cemetery is very interesting. It is poorly kept but very interesting. Wish the skies hadn't opened up! Be cautious!!

There are three large separate sections in this cemetery. I busted my knee in one section because…read moreit was muddy on a dry day and it just looked like dirt, not mud, but alas. The surrounding area was a bit scary and desolate. The cementery is beautiful old history where many of the French and Spanish that founded this area are buried.

Booked through PRCNO as the are the only ones allowed to give tours of the cemetery (save our…read morecemeteries) Luis gave our tour and he was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. You can tell he really appreciates the history that he is sharing. It was really cool to finally get in to see this cemetery.

As of 2026, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is currently closed to the public, but it's still worth…read morestopping by if you're exploring the Garden District. Even from outside the gates, the rows of above-ground tombs and weathered stonework create the unmistakable atmosphere that New Orleans cemeteries are known for. It remains one of the most recognizable landmarks in the neighborhood and adds to the character of the surrounding streets. I hope by my next visit to the city, I'll be able to walk through the cemetery and experience the interior for myself.

Ok so here's what you're gonna do, you're gonna check the hours online, you're gonna go down to…read moreCanal and get on the streetcar called Cemetaries. (Sorry theatre buffs, there's no longer a streetcar named Desire in Nola, but the Cemetaries car remains). Enjoy the ride out, and at the end of the line, there's a bunch of cemetaries showcasing some beautiful masonry. These old above ground cemetaries are something that makes Nola special and really should be seen in person. And the vintage streetcar ride is something fun to do anyways. At the end stop there's a coffee shop for refreshing, if you need it. Oddfellows is always closed, the others you can walk around in. (It's a lot of ground to cover and I might say, none of the group that went was up for traversing the entire area). Imho, you can't leave Nola without paying your respects to the unidentified victims of Hurricaine Katrina. The nameless black granite pillars were placed in the shape of a hurricaine swirling and the plaque explains further. These people were never identified, but the city would not allow them to be forgotten. A class act by the city to make sure all had a final, respectful resting place. Nearby is an area dedicated to those who donated their bodies to science for learning at LSU.

At the dogleg of Canal BLVD where it intersects with City Park Avenue, the St Patrick's cemeteries…read moreare not the absolute most popular ones to visit, but these peaceful places are still a sight to behold. They are well maintained and look great. If you are coming at the end of the day, please be aware that they lock the gates promptly at closing times. The few employees I have encountered were friendly and informative. I am so sure that to outsiders, reviewing of a cemetery is odd, but this is New Orleans, and the cemeteries have to be above ground because of our being so close to the water tables and sea level. There are larger cemeteries in this area and the Hurricane Katrina Memorial as well, so it is just so easy to hit a couple to appreciate the beauty. I am not sure why there are separate listings for all of the cemeteries, but here they all are. Cemetery number 2 is listed here. https://www.yelp.com/biz/st-patrick-cemetery-no-2-new-orleans Cemetery number 3 is listed here https://www.yelp.com/biz/st-patricks-cemetery-no-3-new-Orleans The cemeteries all together is listed here https://www.yelp.com/biz/st-patrick-cemeteries-and-mausoleum-new-orleans?osq=st+patricks+cemetery https://nolacatholiccemeteries.org/our-history http://gonola.com/2014/11/03/nola-history-the-irish-cemeteries.html

Located at Canal and Canal, the three St. Patrick Cemeteries were established in 1841 by Catholic…read moreIrish immigrants who formed the parish in 1833. Initially, traditional in-ground burials were the preferred type due to cultural preferences and cost. However, the Yellow Fever Epidemics of 1847 and 1853 and water table in New Orleans changed the landscape of the cemetery. In August of 1853, 1,300 people died of yellow fever each week. The Irish and German immigrants were especially hard hit by the epidemic. In the month of just August 1853, over a thousand yellow fever victims were laid to rest in St. Patrick Cemetery No. 1. The massive numbers of interments within such a short period of time led to St. Patrick Cemetery No. 1 being less organized in distinct rows than St. Patrick Cemetery No. 2 and 3. St. Patrick Cemetery No. 2 and 3 follow a more formal layout in organized rows. The tombs reflect the changing demographics of the St. Patrick congregation over time as many English, French, and Italian surnames are represented. The beautiful Pietà in St. Patrick Cemetery No. 2 was erected by Father Raymond Carra pastor of St. Patrick's Church, during the 1910s or early 1920s. It is a peaceful cemetery to visit on a visit to New Orleans.

Not quite sure how to rate a cemetary. I think they're interesting for various reasons, and in New…read moreOrleans particularly because the plots are all above ground and have so much character. I'm intrigued by the ornate designs of some of the headstones and the grand stature of the mausoleums. I wonder what it all means; why a family chooses something very simple and another chooses something so grand. Is it to flaunt wealth and status even after death? Do people just buy what they can afford? Why are there fences/chains around some and not others? Do people get buried with their parents and siblings anymore, leaving their spouses and children to be buried elsewhere? And for those who have been deceased since or before the early 1900s...do they still get visitors? In New Orleans there are cemeteries all around so finding one to visit should be easy, but check the internet because some have restricted hours and charge a fee.

St. Louis Cemetery is located at 3421 Esplanade Ave. and runs parallel to Bayou St. John. It was…read moreestablished in 1854. Burials began in 1855 but the actual construction did not begin until 1856. As most of New Orleans' tombs are above ground, it is a very popular tourists' attraction, as there are often tour busses parked outside the gate. Before buying a plot here, I'd consider the hours of operation as the gates are "only" open from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM Monday through Saturday, and 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM on Sundays and holidays. These hours can be a little constraining if you work past 4:30 PM. Prior to my dad's passing in Spring 2025, he told us that he wanted to be buried in St. Louis Cemetery 3, as he wanted to close to Bayou St. John, as it brought back fond childhood memories going fishing there. He chose to be cremated, as will my mom one day. They chose a side by side niche for their ashes in the St. Michael the Archangel Cremation Garden, which is a fairly "new" addition to the cemetery. Mrs. Mel Byrd helped us with all the details regarding his final resting place and plaque. There are 2 or 3 mausoleums here as well as countless vaults and above ground gravesites. Even though it's a tourist attraction, most tourists are very respectful when I have been there. Often times, there are no tourists there and it can be very serene. If you are not from New Orleans, this is a good/informative tour outside of the French Quarter.

While still daylight we decided to do some exploring. Years ago hubs and I took a vampire as well…read moreas voodoo tour here. Later Doc and I spent a day while on a road trip. I have watched Double Jeopardy many times and wanted Doc to see the graveyards. This afternoon we visited 3 cemeteries before dinner. We could not enter, just observed from outside the gates. Remarkable how costly their immortal houses must have been. Very unique, many angels. Befitting of what we saw, Doc put Coco on the tv.

Let me just begin with my new friend BUDDYYYY!!!!!…read more Buddy is the heart and excitement behind the tours of this cemetery. Buddy kept the quest enticing, spoke the history and stories of each stop with dignity and respect. Buddy was very kind and made sure each patron upheld their personal dignity to the cemetery to make sure integrity was kept for every guest included, along with the residents resting inside. I would HIGHLY recommend Buddy for the cemetery journey because my friend did not treat it as a tourist attraction, buddy treated it how it should be. Learning the culture, traditions and curiosities that lay behind the cemetery walls. Buddy, thank you for this immaculate experience and thank you for becoming a welcoming friend! See you again in the future! - YOUR DETROIT GIRLS

It was only a four minute walk from our Hotel, the Courtyard Marriott Iberville. The others were…read moretired from walking the Garden District, but since it was close, I decided to visit. Don't be confused, there is a Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, but that is CLOSED, and is located in the Garden District (near Commander's Palace restaurant). You will need to be in a tour to enter, but I did it on the cheap. If you walk the perimeter, you can view the grounds from the iron gates built into the block walls. I stuck my phone in and took some nice photos. At the entrance, I peeked in and was able to see the Nicholas Cage pyramid crypt.

A great old crumbling cemetery. The cemetery was made possible in 1838 by New Orleans…read morephilanthropist Stephen Henderson whose estate left property to the Firemen's Charitable & Benevolent Association. The charitable association sold this property to fund the purchase of the cemetery site at the very end of the Canal Streetcar Line. Crowning this imposing entrance was the motto: "Here to their bosom mother earth, take back in peace what thou has given, and, all that is of heavenly birth, God in peace recall to heaven." Shortly after opening the cemetery, the remains of volunteer firemen entombed elsewhere were moved to Cypress Grove. Tombs at Cypress Grove are among the nation's leading examples of memorial architecture. Its located a few minutes walk from the Katrina Memorial so a good little twofer.

This is an active cemetery, meaning that people are laying their loved ones to rest here-it's not…read morejust old graves. So when walking through, please be sensitive and respectful of that. It's absolutely fascinating to me how the burial process works here. I'm used to attending funerals where the person is laid to rest in a casket six feet under the earth. Here, it's different. Because you'll hit water after digging two feet (remember, New Orleans is built on top of a swamp), it's not practical to bury people this way. Instead, there are these beautiful and eerie above-ground tombs that people are placed in. I learned that the deceased person is put in a pine box, then put onto a shelf inside the tomb. 366 days later (a year and one day), the person's remains (usually just bones and dust by that point), are pushed to the back of the shelf, falling down to the open ground below (still inside the tomb). This is how the family burial tomb works. It's shared amongst multiple people; often many generations. I also learned that it's not uncommon for a family to have a note ("mortgage") on their tomb. Not surprised, since those things are massive, I'm sure they cost a pretty penny. It was one of the highlights of our trip-visiting the cemetery and learning about how culture, environment and tradition play a role in this process. I'd strongly encourage anyone with a hint of curiosity to take the time to visit.

I imagine that people who have never lived or visited New Orleans may find it odd that we celebrate…read moreour cemeteries down here. It's not odd at all to discover that most of the people who visit the cities of the dead are not necessarily visiting a loved one, they are there admiring the tombs. St. Patrick's is an archdiocesan cemetery meaning it is maintained by the Catholic Church. It is one of the better maintained properties especially when you consider many of these tombs were built back in the mid 1800's. That was a particularly bad time for the Irish who had settled in the city as many succumbed to a Yellow Fever epidemic. Many of those pour souls are forever entombed here and when you visit you will notice many Irish names adorning these graves. I suggest visiting this cemetery before you head to Metairie cemetery as this far less fancy. If you go to MC first you may be a bit disappointed, but there is still plenty to see. My favorite spot can be found at the rear of the cemetery near the old K&B. There is an incredible statue with swords and a crown that I stood and stared at for a long time. You'll know the one I am talking about when you see it.

I happened to have an appointment in the 4 story building adjacent to this cemetery and the windows…read moreallowed for great views down into it. While non of the tombs are super fancy, many are very nice and date back to the mid 19th century. The space is well maintained as this is a diocesan cemetery rather than city owned. I appreciate that they have taken care of the older head stones and that they aren't lying broken in the aisles. As you can imagine from the name, this was originally a graveyard for those of Irish descent in New Orleans.