From Mardi Gras Floats to Graveyards and Ghosts
A visit to the Garden District to see New Orleans mansions didn’t seem worth the long crowded trolley ride (although our trolley conductor was very entertaining), but it did get us to Lafayette Cemetery, which was a worthwhile visit.
The cemetery dates back to 1833 and is known as one of New Orleans’ “cities of the dead” because of the use of above ground tombs, which look like buildings. Above ground tombs and wall vaults were used because New Orleans was built on a swap and buried bodies eventually float.
Layfette Cemetery was formerly a part of the Livadudais Plantation. It was featured in Ann Rice’s vampire books and was the setting of several movies, including Double Jeopardy and Interview with a Vampire. Also, music videos by LeAnn Rimes and the New Kids on the Block were shot at the cemetery.
The non-segregated, non-denominational cemetery is the resting place of over 25 immigrants from over 25 different countries. It’s the burial place of Marie Laveau, the legendary “voodoo queen,” and other New Orleanians who achieved world fame. Along with family tombs there are society tombs for several past volunteer fireman organizations, the independent Order of Odd Fellows, German Presbyterian Community, Home for Destitute Boys and the YMCA.
The Save Our Cemeteries non-profit organization says: The cemetery was named for the City of Lafayette, which was annexed to the City of New Orleans as the Fourth District. The area of New Orleans that once was the city of Lafayette consists of two designated historical districts, the Irish Channel and the Garden District. The residents of the Irish Channel were first-generation immigrants many from Ireland and Germany, the two largest groups of immigrants to settle in New Orleans in the two decades before the Civil War. It was known as a working-class poor neighborhood, a rough and tough riverfront area. The Garden District, on the other hand, represented the new wealth of immigrants from Great Britain and the North who came and made their fortunes as cotton factors, brokers, and merchants after the Louisiana Purchase.
It’s a tourist attraction. Money from tours go to preserve the cemetery, which has an impressive wrought iron gated entrance and the big shade trees throughout. Some photos of Mari Gras floats are HERE.
________Shadow Shot Sunday
April 19th, 2015 1:36 am
Interesting place, The City of Dead. I read about it.
The biggest and prettiest if I can use that word, that I have seen was in Havana, Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón. And another, well there was more than one I visited was in Sint Maartens -here, and I suppose other places, it customary for relatives to put the deads’ favourite items on top their vaults , creature comforts for the after life-such as stainless steel fan to keep them cool, mugs and glass, combs and brushes, you name it.
April 19th, 2015 2:12 am
there is something so interesting about cemeteries in New Orleans, the above ground graves are intriguing and eerie at the same time.
April 19th, 2015 2:58 am
I love exploring graveyards and cemeteries and even doing it through someone else’s eyes is fun – thank you.
April 19th, 2015 8:15 am
A bit spooky but I would still like to visit it to see it for myself. 😉
April 19th, 2015 11:27 am
Interesting post. I enjoyed learning some of the history of this place. Thanks!
April 19th, 2015 4:20 pm
Now I don’t feel quite so odd visiting cemeteries seeing as they make it a tourist attraction there. What a cool cemetery that is.
April 20th, 2015 12:17 am
My second best graveyard with above the ground tombs (for the same reason) was in Cedar Key. http://looseleafnotes.com/2007/02/more-fun-in-cedar-key/