St Louis Cemetery No 3

I am a cemetery nut and for sure I like all the cemetery’s in Nola but of the St Louis’s this one is the least interesting to me. It’s small but doesn’t have much in the way of statues or unusual monuments. The coolest part was the second floor of the mausoleum had a balcony that gave a nice view of the cemetery. The metal statue was also one of the few things in the cemetery that I thought was interesting. This is free to visit and felt safe here and didn’t feel it was Necessary to take a tour here. there is a sign saying no driving tours but we sorta ignored that and did a quick drive by. Didn’t see much to stop and see but the mausoleum balcony was worth a look. nice view there.

This cemetery is interesting if you haven’t visited a cemetery in the south because the toombs are above ground but if you are looking for history, I suggest visiting an older cemetery. I’m from a city that buries people below ground so it’s fascinating to me.

The graveyard is interesting, but far from the best I’ve seen. It’s look is so New Orleans! Nowhere else in the world tombs look like this. I didn’t take a tour so I didn’t realize till after I left that here we have Nickolas Cage’s future final home (with kisses all over it) and the tomb of Marie Lavaue. The tombs are on a whole pretty damaged (presumably from Katrina 9 years ago), but some people would prefer that. It gives it a unique picturesque air. Finally I would like to note, it was very crowded for a Monday morning.

It is worth a visit to see one of the 3 cemeteries that are just outside the French Quarter. We visited number 1, and I believe this is where to post the review. A unique glimpse into the folks who shaped the city. You can even see some Voodoo alters set up as well. I have always been intrigued, I had never seen a cemetery of this type until I watched the movie Easy Rider. Since then I have always wanted to visit whenever possible.

We visited number one and I wrote a review but it accidentally posted to number 2. So this is an attempt to put the review in the right place. It was incredible we saw Marie Laveau’s tomb and even know nothing odd happened I had the chills for about 10 minutes after we left which is unusual for me.

I would never dream of coming to New Orleans without seeing the above ground crypt’s you see all of the names of people you read about. Seeing the names of the men & woman who shaped to unique landscape you know and love.

Cemetery is privately owned and hours vary according to season. It is the newest of the three St Louis Cemeteries and in the best shape. Parking is very hard to find, I have seen people driving cars in there. They have some very elaborate memorials and most are in good shape.

So yeah, NOLO is seriously different than California in terms of burying our dead. They bury families together, I’m talking generations and you see how the grave sites look. They’re buried above ground because the cemeteries are below sea level and the bodies will come up if buried under the ground.

The more I visit and explore this cemetery, the more I love it! It’s not the oldest, or the prettiest, or the fanciest, but for me it is the closest to home and often gets added to my daily walks. The layout is long and skinny, so if you walk all the way to the back and then return to the street, it is a pretty respectable hike. There is many fascinating tombs and interesting family trees to discover. As with all of the cemeteries in this city, tons of photo ops.
As a fun tour outside of the French Quarter, take the Esplanade bus away from the river ($ 1.25), get out and explore this cemetery (FREE) and then walk across Bayou St. John to the art museum ($ 10) then the sculpture garden (FREE). Then finish your day with food and drinks in the 3000 – 3200 block of Esplanade (many restaurants to choose from), you can thank me later. (wink)

This is a pretty accessible and gorgeous cemetery within an easy walk of the big central park and art museum. Add all these together and you’ve got a really nice afternoon ahead of you.

«Here the living find comfort and are consoled by visiting the burial places of their loved ones and praying for them.»
So says the plaque near the Esplande Ave entrance to St Louis No. 3, a far less visited place than St Louis Cemetery No. 1, which is nearer to the French Quarter and boasts twice daily tours.
But this cemetery, near to the wonderful City Park and NOMA sculpture garden, is utterly enchanting as a destination for the living to visit.
Even if they are living beings of the tourist variety.
The dead don’t mind; the cemetery isn’t really for them, anyway, other than to preserve their remains beneath rock, stone, and marble. It’s the living things here that matter: the people who tend the grave sites, the flowers they leave behind, and the wonderful combinations of light and shadow, heat and cool, wind and calm, that make this one of NOLA’s most intimate and expressive of venues.
There is a lot of history here, multigenerational families of Catholic (and Greek Orthodox) faith. But also city history written and contained in stone: of floods and famines and yellow fever outbreaks. Hurricanes, too.
Through it all, St Louis No 3 survives.
So come and visit. Find comfort.
You can always visit the French Quarter later.