New Orleans has some of the most unique cemeteries in the world. We bury our dead above ground, creating hauntingly beautiful cities of the dead that attract countless visitors each year. The oldest cemetery in New Orleans happens to also be one of the spookiest, and it’s a tour every New Orleanian should add to their bucket list. Today we are exploring the history of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and the potential spirits that just can’t seem to move on.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 opened in 1789, making it the oldest cemetery in New Orleans.
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It replaced St. Peter Cemetery, which no longer exists, as the main burial ground when the city was redesigned after the fire of 1788.
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Hauntingly beautiful and full of history, the cemetery is actually closed to the public unless you are accompanied by a licensed tour guide.
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When you take the tour, you’ll get to wander through the rows and rows of tombs, several of which are over 200 years old.
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There are many famous New Orlanians buried here, including Homer Plessy from the historic 1896 civil rights case.
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One of the most popular burial sites within St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is the Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau.
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And not too far away from Laveau, you’ll find the rather interesting pyramid tomb belonging to the famous actor Nicholas Cage.
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Even though the cemetery spans only one square block, it seems to go on forever. There are over 700 tombs and over 100,000 people buried here.
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As you wander through the crumbling tombs, you might have a paranormal encounter, as it's known as one of the most haunted cemeteries in the country.
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There are many spirits that are believed to haunt the historic cemetery, including the Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau and an 18th century soldier named Henry Vignes, who is known to walk up to visitors and ask them if they know there the Vignes tomb is located.
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Address: 425 Basin Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112

To book your tour to get a closer look at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, click here.

 

New Orleans is full of haunted attractions. For a truly spooky adventure, take off on this haunted road trip, where you’ll visit all the paranormal hot spots around New Orleans.

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