When you join a guided tour inside St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, you’re not only stepping into New Orleans’ oldest and most storied burial ground—you’re also playing a vital role in preserving its legacy for generations to come.
As the only official tour provider authorized to bring visitors through its gates, Cemetery Tours NOLA partners with New Orleans Catholic Cemeteries to ensure that every ticket sold supports ongoing preservation efforts, including the Abandoned Tomb Initiative.
What Is the Abandoned Tomb Initiative?
The Abandoned Tomb Initiative is a restoration program dedicated to repairing and conserving historic tombs that no longer have descendants to care for them. Many of these tombs date back to the late 1700s and early 1800s and hold national significance—not only as architectural treasures but as tangible pieces of New Orleans’ cultural history.
Skilled preservationists use traditional materials like lime-based mortar and lime wash, following the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation to maintain the integrity of each structure. This ensures repairs are historically accurate and built to withstand the city’s subtropical climate.
Why Your Tour Matters
Tourism revenue from every ticket helps fund these restorations—covering costs for skilled labor, specialized materials, and careful cleaning methods that protect fragile stonework. Without this financial support, many tombs would continue to deteriorate under the weight of time, weather, and past vandalism.
Your visit also helps maintain the pathways, landscaping, and infrastructure of the cemetery itself, ensuring that it remains safe and accessible for future visitors.
A Nationally Recognized Landmark
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975 and part of the African American Heritage Trail, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is far more than a tourist attraction—it’s an active burial ground and a cultural touchstone. The preservation work funded by tours safeguards the stories of notable figures like Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, civil rights pioneer Homer Plessy, and generations of New Orleans families.
How You Can Help Beyond the Tour
If you’d like to make a greater impact, New Orleans Catholic Cemeteries also accepts donations directly to support the Abandoned Tomb Initiative. Contributions go entirely toward preserving the artistry, history, and spiritual importance of these sacred spaces.
Tour with purpose. Book your official guided visit to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 today and help protect one of New Orleans’ most important historic landmarks.
