Most folks may not think of a cemetery as a typical place to visit while on vacation, however, it is certainly a place that can tell you much about the history and people of a town. There are numerous interesting graveyards in New Orleans, but Lafayette Cemetery #1 is certainly the most famous and oldest in the city and has been the site of many movies.
The graveyard is located in the Garden District, which is a marvelous area to stroll around in and see mansions with incredible southern antebellum architecture. Commander’s Palace, the famous N.O. restaurant where Emeril Legasse got his start, is just around the corner from the massive iron gates that frame the entrance to the cemetery. It’s a great place to stop in for lunch if you can afford a big splurge.
Lafayette is unique in that the graves are all above the ground in tombs because the water table is so high above sea level. In fact, were it not for these vaults, the bodies would literally pop out of the ground. The stones are all a grizzled gray and many appear much older than they really are thanks to the high level of humidity that instantly ages the marble.
Entire families are buried in each of the small crypts, and visitors often wonder aloud just exactly how so many people are able to fit into such a small space. Expert tour guides creepily reveal that those with little money had no choice than to have the bones and ashes of a earlier deceased family member simply pushed aside so that a new corpse could fit inside.
You are free to tour Lafayette on your own, or you can join the tours offered by the group Save Our Cemeteries. Be warned that you may be approached by individuals around the local cemeteries to give you a so-called tour, but these are nothing more than people trying to make a quick buck and take advantage of unsuspecting tourists. Be sure to give them a kind, but firm brush off.
You should also make sure to see Lafayette during daylight hours unless you’re with a tour guide, as one never knows what to expect around the city these days. If you are tempted by the famous voodoo charms of New Orleans, there are interesting night vampire and ghost tours of some of the smaller, local cemeteries that are quite fascinating.
Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire had scenes that were shot here, and Anne used to live in the Garden District up until just a few years ago. Her famous character Lestat is fictionally buried at Lafayette. Double Jeopardy was also filmed here. So, you can get a history lesson and entertainment all rolled up into one.