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New Orleans is unique in many aspects. One aspect of our uniqueness is how we bury and care for our dead.
After a heavy rain, they discovered caskets were popping up out of the ground. The first solution, placing stones in and on the caskets to weigh them didn't work nor did the second option of drilling holes in the caskets. In 1789, under Spanish Governor Esteban Miro, St. Louis Cemetery #1 was built. Due to the Spanish influence, the cemetery was built using the wall vault system that was popular in Spain. Along with the wall vaults built, above ground tombs were also built. These "homes of the deceased" soon became elaborate structures that were used to show off wealth and prestige. Some of these tombs, or even cemeteries, now have a better history than their current or intended residents. Metairie Cemetery was built upon the grounds of the old Metairie Race Course after it went bankrupt. According to legend, the race track, which was owned by the Metairie Jockey Club, refused membership to Charles T. Howard, a local resident who had garnered his wealth by winning the local lottery. After being refused membership, Howard vowed that the race course would become a cemetery. Sure enough, after the Civil War and Reconstruction, the track went bankrupt and Howard was able to see his curse come true. Today, Howard is buried in his tomb located on Central Avenue in the cemetery, which was built following the original oval layout of the track itself. Metairie Cemetery has two tours available, both are free of charge. They are self-guided tours with an audio cassette, cassette player, and map provided and last about 60 minutes each. Each is structured so that you can enjoy either the entire 60 minutes or just 30 minutes. The first one, "Great Families and Captains of Commerce", features monuments such as the Helis tomb and mausoleum, the Frank B. Williams mausoleum, and the Stanley W. Ray monument. The second tour, "Soldiers, Statesmen, Patriots, Rebels". This tour will bring you to such notables of Governor Williams Charles Cole Claiborne, General P.G.T. Beauregard's daughter, and the Army of Virginia, La. Div. You can pick up your tour tape at the Cemetery's office. Tours are also available for some of New Orleans older cemeteries, including St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. These tours are often lead by a guide with a security escort to ensure the safety of everyone due to the neighboring surroundings. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article The Second Cities of New Orleans in New Orleans is owned by Westley Annis. Permission to republish The Second Cities of New Orleans in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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