(800) 814 COOL Questions? Call Us Now!

6 Cemeteries of New Orleans: Famous Graves & Fascinating History

9 Reviews 4.89 out of 5 stars Based on 9 reviews collected by Cool Broadway and TripAdvisor | New Orleans, USA

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
This is usually booked 31 (0) days in advance.

2 hours (Approx.)
Mobile Ticket
Instant Confirmation

Overview

We'll go to FIVE CEMETERIES in New Orleans, including METAIRIE CEMETERY, dubbed by many as "the most beautiful cemetery in America." 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 a non-denominational cemetery (Metairie Cemetery, where ANNE RICE, author of INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE is buried), a Catholic cemetery; a Jewish cemetery; a Protestant cemetery; and a cemetery for the Katrina Hurricane victims and for yellow fever patients. We will visit celebrity graves in these cemeteries (authors, actors, musicians, politicians). 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 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

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Lake Lawn Metairie

Really known as METAIRIE CEMETERY, it is dubbed by many as THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CEMETERY IN AMERICA. We'll see the grave of ANNE RICE - the author of INTERVIEW W A VAMPIRE; the grave of Louie Prima (rock-and-roll musician), graves of actors, and some mafiosos as well.
Read more

30 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

30 minutes • 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

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Show 2 more stops

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 tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We’re here to help.
Call (800) 814 COOL to speak with a Destination Specialist

Activity code: C-180453P3

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.89
9 reviews

Average 4.89 out of 5 stars based on 9 traveler reviews collected by Cool Broadway and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
8
4 stars
1
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
This is usually booked 31 (0) days in advance.

Similar Tours & Activities

Villains and Vixens True Crime Walking Tour in New Orleans

Villains and Vixens True Crime Walking Tour in New Orleans

2
 1 hour 30 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
$35

Historic French Quarter Walking Tour

Historic French Quarter Walking Tour

 1 hour 30 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
$39

Pirate Pub Crawl

Pirate Pub Crawl

1
 1 hour 30 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
$39

Garden District Architecture Walking Tour in New Orleans
Likely to Sell Out

Garden District Architecture Walking Tour in New Orleans

4
 2 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
$20

Travelers Who Bought This Tour 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
Likely to Sell Out

Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

 3 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
$58

Three Hour City Tour of New Orleans

Three Hour City Tour of New Orleans

 3 hours  Hotel pickup offered  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
$45

Cancellation Policy

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

Free cancellation
100% refund
No refund

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

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CDT).

Sorting, ranking, and search results

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

Cool Broadway wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through Cool Broadway over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.