Photo: MusikAnimal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.The place
The city's first planned cemetery, on a single block.
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is a historic cemetery in the Garden District of New Orleans. It was founded in 1833 and is still in use. It takes its name from the City of Lafayette, a suburb that New Orleans annexed in 1852.
It was the city's first planned cemetery. Its layout is cruciform, which allowed funeral processions to move through. It fits within one city block and holds about 1,100 family tombs and some 7,000 people. The tombs and mausoleums, many holding several family members, are valued for their architecture.
What happened here
Recognition, damage and repair.
The cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 1, 1972, for its architectural and social history. The World Monuments Fund put it on its Watch list in 1996 because some tombs were in poor condition, and again in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina damaged much of the site. The Fund then worked with Save Our Cemeteries and the Preservation Trades Network to repair tombs and restore the grounds. Save Our Cemeteries continues to advocate for historic cemeteries and make repairs.
In September 2019 the city closed the cemetery to visitors, with no reopening date given at the time. It has appeared in many films and TV series, including Interview with the Vampire, Double Jeopardy, Dracula 2000, The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. As a place of burial, it deserves quiet and respect.
Photos
The tombs and their setting.
The entrance gate and arched sign of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. President Rhapsody, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.Family tombs, from low plots to taller vaults, at Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. MusikAnimal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.A tomb with a carved fire engine relief and a fire company name, behind an iron fence. MusikAnimal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sold by Viator. Prices and review counts checked on 09/09/2026. These tours cover the Garden District, and the second mentions cemeteries in its title. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 has been closed to visitors, so check whether any tour enters it.
Questions people ask
Before you go.
Can you visit Lafayette Cemetery No. 1?
The City of New Orleans closed it to visitors in September 2019, and no reopening date was available then. Check current status with the city before you go.
Why is Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 notable?
It was the city's first planned cemetery, laid out in a cross shape for funeral processions, and it is known for the architecture of its tombs and mausoleums.
How many tombs does it have?
About 1,100 family tombs, holding some 7,000 people, all within a single city block.
What films were shot in Lafayette Cemetery No. 1?
Titles include Hard Target, Interview with the Vampire, Double Jeopardy, Dracula 2000, Deja Vu, Jonah Hex and Black and Blue. TV series include The Vampire Diaries and The Originals.
More to see
Around New Orleans
More things to do around here
Walking tours, day trips and experiences around this area, on GetYourGuide.
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