Cities of the Dead: New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana

I know it isn’t everyone’s thing, but I, for one, love old cemeteries. I love the history, I love trying to imagine what someone’s life was like, and I love photographing the tombstones. Some of my favourite cemeteries so far have been in Cuba, Turkey, and England. Now, surprisingly enough, I’ve added the USA to that list!

The cemeteries in New Orleans are generally called “Cities of the Dead”. Visit any of the historic cemeteries and it will quickly become evident why – the rows of ornate tombs complete with iron fences certainly make it look like a neighbourhood!

New Orleans has a number of amazing cemeteries to visit. Among the best known is St. Louis No. 1. This cemetery, however, is no longer open to the general public…without a guide that is. As long as you’re with an accredited tour guide, you can visit this beautiful place. And conveniently, St. Louis No. 2 is nearby so you can visit two cemeteries very easily in one half day.

I went with a group called Save Our Cemeteries. They are a non-profit that was founded in 1974 with the explicit goal of restoring the historic cemeteries around New Orleans. Even though their tours are a bit more expensive than othes, I was more than happy to support them. The money is going to a good cause! ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).