6 Cemeteries of New Orleans: Famous Graves & Fascinating History

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Recommended by 100% of travelers

| New Orleans, USA

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2 hours (approx.)

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Overview

We'll go to FIVE CEMETERIES in New Orleans, including METAIRIE CEMETERY, dubbed by many as "the most beautiful cemetery in America." Don't worry - they are all next to one another, so this is a very leisurely walk. This is perhaps the only tour in New Orleans that covers such a variety of cemeteries and religions: we'll visit a non-denominational cemetery (Metairie Cemetery, where ANNE RICE, author of INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE is buried), a Catholic cemetery; a Jewish cemetery; a Protestant cemetery; and a cemetery for the Katrina Hurricane victims and for yellow fever patients. We will visit celebrity graves in these cemeteries (authors, actors, musicians, politicians). The tour is FULLY NARATED, and guests get to hear the history of the different communities, and how and why New Orleans buries its loved ones so differently than the rest of the USA.

What's Included

The fascinating burial procedures of New Orleans, and a visit to six unique cemeteries
Tour guide is included

Lunch
Alcoholic beverages Alcoholic Beverages

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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Canal Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70124, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

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This activity ends back at the meeting point.

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What To Expect

Cypress Grove and Greenwood Cemeteries

There are 3 cemeteries in this sub-heading. Our first cemetery on the tour is GREENWOOD CEMETERY - a stunningly beautiful cemetery with imposing graves and statues. We will visit several celebrity graves here. Guests will hear fascinating stories of how and why burial procedures in New Orleans are different than anywhere else in the United States. After Greenwood, we will visit CYPRESS GROVE CEMETERY, a Protestant graveyard, where we will visit more celebrity graves, and the two largest and most monumental graves in all of New Orleans. Guests will here the fascinating (and funny) story of the feud between the two families that built these two graves. We will also visit the GATES OF JUHAD CEMETERY - a Jewish cemetery, where guests will hear how Jewish burial practices in New Orleans differ than Catholic and Protestant burial practices.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Lake Lawn Metairie

Really known as METAIRIE CEMETERY, it is dubbed by many as THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CEMETERY IN AMERICA. We'll see the grave of ANNE RICE - the author of INTERVIEW W A VAMPIRE; the grave of Louie Prima (rock-and-roll musician), graves of actors, and some mafiosos as well.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

St. Patrick Cemetery

This sub-category is actually THREE different cemeteries. In SAINT PATRICK #1 CEMETERY, guests will see the oldest Irish Catholic Cemetery in the city - a cemetery that was started by immigrants who escaped the Irish Potato Famine. It was the first generation of Irish New Orleanians, and because they were impoverished, they built modest graves in a haphazard manner. Across the street, we'll visit ST. PATRICK #2 CEMETERY, built a generation later, and guests will be see what new money in the Irish-American community meant in terms of a cemetery (imposing, monumental, and very ornate graves). Guests will also hear the story of the struggles of the Irish community in the early days of our city. Next door, we'll also visit CHARITY HOSPITAL CEMETERY - which is a mass burial ground strictly used in the past for victims of YELLOW FEVER. Guests we'll hear the sinister and macabre history of how and why yellow fever was so prevalent in New Orleans.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Hurricane Katrina Memorial

This is not only a beautiful hurricane victims' memorial, but also serves at a cemetery for 80 locals who tragically lost their lives in the 2005 hurricane. Guests will hear the touching story of their lives, and also fascinating detective story of how their bodies were "lost" by the local authorities, only to be "re-discovered" a few years later in an obscure local massive freezer, after which their received a beautiful burial, with all the respect and dignity that they deserved.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the 6 Cemeteries of New Orleans: Famous Graves & Fascinating History?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CDT). Read more Apr 2025