St. Louis No. 1

St. Louis #1 was established in 1789 and is renowned as the first of the Nola’s beautiful and atmospheric “Cities of the Dead.”

It was created because of overcrowding at the St. Peter’s Street Cemetery and while temporary at first at its place just north of the French Quarter, it was approved by Spanish decree on August 14th of that year.

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It’s believed to be the final resting place for the city’s famous voodoo queen, Marie LeVeau. And possibly, because of that and other factors, the cemetery has been the vandalized over the years. Due to that, these days, one must visit with a tour. The good thing is that tours are excellent, concentrating on the development of the city, the famous who are interred there including a wealthy financier of the American Revolution, and more.

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It is still an active cemetery. The actor Nicholas Cage has purchased a tomb there for his final resting place. The effect of yellow fever, flooding, creation and expansion, all lie within the history of St. Louis #1.

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There are other cemeteries there, of course! Lafayette is beautiful and near the wonderful Garden District Book Shop and there are two more “St. Louis” cemeteries as well as other historic and architecturally significant final resting places for the dead.

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Do check whether they do or do not require that tours be taken to enter.

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And remember . . .

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Historians don’t pinpoint the location of the original “St. Peter’s Street Cemetery,” which was originally the burial ground for the city during the colonial era. But flooding, fevers, unsanitary conditions . . . much that had to do with the history and development of Nola, caused its closure and the creation of St. Louis #1. But in 2011 when a pool was being dug in the city, fifteen coffins were discovered, accepted to have been interred long, long ago—before the land was reclaimed from the dead for development of the growing settlement.

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And, of course, all this leads to New Orleans being one of the “most haunted” cities in the United States!