St Louis Cemetery No. 1
National Register Of Historic Places · New Orleans, Louisiana
A block of whitewashed tombs just outside the French Quarter, opened in 1789 and the oldest cemetery still standing in New Orleans. The tombs are above ground because the water table is about two feet down and the dead do not stay buried here. Marie Laveau is in it, or is said to be, and her tomb draws more visitors than anything else in the ground. Since 2015 you cannot go in alone — after years of vandalism the Archdiocese restricted access to licensed tour guides and descendants, and that rule is enforced at the gate.
425 Basin Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, United States
ACCESS IS RESTRICTED — since 2015 entry requires a licensed tour guide, family membership or research authorisation, and the rule is enforced at the gate. There is no self-guided option. Licensed tours run about an hour and are booked in advance. Generally open weekday and Saturday mornings and CLOSED SUNDAYS, on limited hours that have changed several times; check the current schedule. All Saints Day on 1 November is a traditional family tomb-cleaning day.
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