Lafayette Cemetery No 1, New Orleans, Louisiana - September 2019

On the eve of closure for city maintenance, I explored Lafayette Cemetery Number 1, located in the heart of the Garden District of New Orleans. Due to it's proximity to the city's oldest family homes; it's relative safety; and it's notoriety, it's one of the most visited and tourist-friendly cemeteries in the city. It is also ground central for the city's several yellow fever epidemics and many of the burials coincide with the worst years of the outbreaks. Estimates are that nearly 7000 people are interred within Lafayette Cemetery.

The cemetery has also been a film and television-friendly location, appearing in several movies and television shows; most notably perhaps, the tomb of Lestat was located here in the film, "Interview With The Vampire". The cemetery is located blocks from Anne Rice's former Garden District home. Numerous tour companies have adopted the cemetery as a favorite stop, but please be aware, this cemetery is free to visit. As of this writing on Dec.1 , 2019 - the only cemetery in New Orleans that cannot be accessed for free is St. Louis No. 1. Across the street is world-famous restaurant, Commander's Palace, established in 1893.

In this video, I point out a crypt belonging to the Rice Family and postulate if it is Anne Rice's Family Crypt. While I do not know if there is any facts to substantiate that, I have discovered that Anne Rice will be buried in Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery along with her late husband.

There are many society tombs for the city's unfortunate that fell victim to New Orleans' many epidemics, as well as a society tomb for Jefferson Fire Company No 22.

Ginnie at Hello Little Home offers a comprehensive self-guide to Lafayette No. 1 accompanied by beautiful photography. I recommend checking this out until the cemetery has reopened: https://hellolittlehome.com/lafayette...

NOLA.com article on the cemetery's closure: https://www.nola.com/news/article_cab...

Local News article on preserving the tomb that inspired Lestat's tomb: https://wgno.com/2016/10/27/lestats-t...

Size: Large
Access: (Currently Closed) 7:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Visitors: High
Safety Risk: Low
Uniqueness: Very High
Oldest Burial: 1833
Veteran Burials: Yes
Notable Burials: John Howard Ferguson, George Washington Baldey, Harry Thompson Hays, Isaac Edward Morse, Taylor Webster