History lessons andphotographic opportunities abound in this famous cemetery, a final restingplace for New Orleans residents since 1833.
Covering a block inthe Gardens District of New Orleans, a National Historic Landmark District, thecemetery's grid-like layout mirrors the layout of the surrounding city. Thecemetery took its name from the original settlement of Lafayette, which overtime was annexed by the booming city of New Orleans. Lafayette Cemetery No. 2began in 1850 and is located just north of here.
Walk through thegates of the cemetery and slip back in time. Two avenues form a neat crossthrough the graveyard, making it easy to navigate. Wander through the rows oftombs and crypts. Their epitaphs trace the city’s history, from its Creolebeginnings, through periods of plague and war. Just like New Orleans, thisnon-denominational cemetery is a true melting pot the remains of immigrantsfrom over 25 countries are buried here.
The cemetery featuresvarious types of graves, from the simple “ovens,” or wall vaults, which linethe perimeters, to family tombs and group memorials. Keep an eye out for themonument to the deceased “woodmen of the world,” and the shared crypt of thecity’s “destitute orphan boys.” Interestingly,this is regarded as one of the most haunted burial grounds in the UnitedStates. Make sure you take your camera you may photograph more than youplanned on. Over the decades visitors have reported sightings of ghostlyfigures, feeling cold spots and hearing strange scraping sounds amongst thetombs. Little wonder gothic fiction author Anne Rice has used the cemetery as asetting for several of her novels.
Becareful where you step as subsidence over the years has caused some of themonuments to sink, while others have been dislodged by the roots of ancienttrees, giving the cemetery an eerie feel. The grounds have appeared in a numberof films, including Interview with the Vampire and Double Jeopardy.
LafayetteCemetery is lovingly maintained by the Save Our Cemeteries Group, which runsinformative one-hour tours from Mondays to Saturdays. The cemetery is openevery day except Sunday. The St. Charles streetcar stops close by, and if youstill have an appetite after your visit, one of the city’s most popularrestaurants, Commander's Palace, is right across the road.
