Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
Cemetery · Garden District ·
Historic cemetery with above-ground tombs and ornate gates
Information
1427 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130 Get directions
Historic cemetery with above-ground tombs and ornate gates
1427 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130 Get directions
"I suggest skipping the busy Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in high season in favor of quieter, more respectful alternatives." - Jenny Adams
"A notable Garden District sight, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is listed as a point of interest here, though it is temporarily closed for repairs." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"The lovely tree-filled grounds of Lafayette Cemetery were established in 1833, and it is the oldest of the city-owned and operated cemeteries in New Orleans. More than 7,000 people are buried in the cemetery, which occupies a space roughly equivalent to a single city block. The cemetery was named for the old city of Lafayette, now incorporated into New Orleans, and was added to the National Register of Historic places in 1972. Known for their distinctive above ground burials and particularly lovely monuments, New Orleans’ historic cemeteries are all worth exploring, including Saint Louis Cemetery #1 (home to the tomb of “Voodoo Queen” Marie Laveau), St. Louis Cemetery #2, and the racetrack-shaped Metairie Cemetery. If you love the show The Originals, then you might recognize this cemetery as the home of the witches. All the scenes that take place in a cemetery were filmed here. Update as of November 2020: Lafayette #1 is currently closed for repairs." - ATLAS_OBSCURA
"Embark on a Cemetery Crawl New Orleans' cemeteries are part of the city's culture as well as its landscape—and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is the oldest and most famous. Opened in 1789 on the edge of the French Quarter, the cemetery is home to the tomb of Marie Laveau, a free woman of color who earned a reputation as the city's most powerful voodoo queen in the 1800s. Her tomb is littered with tributes (money, alcohol, candy, trinkets) left by those who hope the queen will grant their desires from beyond the grave. In the Garden District, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 made a cameo in several movies, including Interview with a Vampire and Double Jeopardy . Save Our Cemeteries, a non-profit dedicated to cemetery restoration and preservation, runs tours of both St. Louis No. 1 and Lafayette No. 1."
