6 Cemeteries of New Orleans: Famous Graves & Fascinating History

6 Reviews4.83 out of 5 stars Based on 6 traveler reviews collected by Cool New Orleans and TripAdvisor | New Orleans, USA

Loading Options

2 hours (Approx.)
Mobile Ticket
Instant Confirmation

Overview

We'll go to SIX CEMETERIES in New Orleans. 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 two Catholic cemeteries; a Jewish cemetery; a Protestant cemetery; a cemetery for the Katrina Hurricane victims; and cemetery for yellow fever patients. We will visit celebrity graves in these cemeteries. 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
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Lunch

Meeting Location

Meeting point

Morning Call Coffee Stand, 5101 Canal Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA

Open in Google Maps

Right in front of Morning Call Coffee Stand, on Canal Blvd, in New Orleans. Bathroom access is free. The beignets and the New Orleans traditional cafe-au-lait coffee are phenomenal at this location.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Start Times

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.
Read more

1 hour • 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.
Read more

20 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.
Read more

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Show 1 more stop

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

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the activity for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We’re here to help.
Live Chat, Text, Call, or Email our friendly customer support with your questions.

Activity code: C-180453P3

Reviews

4.83
6 reviews

Average 4.83 out of 5 stars based on 6 traveler reviews collected by Cool New Orleans and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
5
4 stars
1
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0

Similar Tours & Activities

Lower Garden District Food Tour

Lower Garden District Food Tour

 3 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
$89

New Orleans Happy Hour Ghost Walking Tour Pub Crawl

New Orleans Happy Hour Ghost Walking Tour Pub Crawl

4
 2 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
$32.50

Cemetery Tour New Orleans

Cemetery Tour New Orleans

3
 1 hour 30 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
$30

Travelers Who Bought This Activity Also Bought

New Orleans Steamboat NATCHEZ Jazz Cruise
Likely to Sell Out

New Orleans Steamboat NATCHEZ Jazz Cruise

 2 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
$43.50

New Orleans Original Ghost, Voodoo, Vampire, and More Tour

New Orleans Original Ghost, Voodoo, Vampire, and More Tour

 1 hour 45 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
$32.99

Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

 3 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
$58