Cemeteries

The entrance to St. Louis Cemetery #1 (there are three cemeteries in New Orleans named St. Louis).

One of the most famous cemeteries in the city (the burial place of Marie Laveau and other colorful, historical figures). Because the ground is too moist and graves quickly fill up with water when dug, people are buried above ground in crypts, creating ‘cities of the dead’.

Marie Laveau’s Tomb

Probably the most visited grave in the city and reputed to be the most legitimate of the several claims of being the resting place of the Voodoo priestess, Marie Laveau. Laveau made her reputation from being a hairdresser for the aristocratic women of her day. She was able to use the gossip she learned through her clients into selling voodoo charms to the same (coming into knowledge of certain events concerning certain people before they knew it themselves—and then cashing in on the opportunity).  Voodoo adherents constantly visit to her grave asking for wishes to be fulfilled. Her daughter, also named Marie Laveau, continued on the original Voodoo priestess’ reputation long after she retired. 

Voodoo adherents mark X’s in red brick on the tomb of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau as they ask for fulfillment of wishes. Part of the Voodoo ritual is to leave several coins at the gravesite, then make a hasty dash across the street to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church to petition the statue of St. Expeditus to hurry along the desired results.

Dear Guests: We have worked very hard on this site in hopes that it will educate, inform, and entertain. All donations are appreciated, once we get our tip jar back up, but if you can’t do that, please donate a little of your time to signing the guestbook below and let us know what you think. As always, we appreciate your comments. Thanks, Gil Davis -- Jay Barrymore

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This page last updated March 31, 2008
Site Established: January 3, 2001

Copyright ©2001 - 2008 by Gil Davis and Jay Barrymore, 6302 Harper Pl NE #227, Albuquerque,NM 87109 USA. 
Site design and published by Gil Davis .gildavis@usa.com
Most historic research, photo direction, tour guidance by Jay Barrymore