New Orleans Cemeteries are famous for their above ground tombs. Though this style is common to regions colonized by Spain as well as by France, they are quite rare in North America. They are one of the many reasons New Orleans is a unique and fascinating place.
I studied architectural conservation, and have for years been writing about cemetery conservation as well as doing restoration work in a variety of historic cemeteries in Louisiana and doing masonary work in the New Orleans area.
During this time, I have been frequently dismayed by the behavior of the living among my most favorite of clients: the dead. Due to their age, their location in a unique subtropical climate, and various economic woes, our cemeteries are very fragile. Allow me to bestow upon you a courteous request to respect the dead when you visit a New Orleans Cemetery, by considering the following:. They are not mere relics of the past here for entertainment.
There may be people mourning a loved one nearby, so be respectful of this fact. Likewise, do not remove memorials or spiritual offerings from burial sites, as you probably would not from any other burial site.
Since then the habit has been continued, leading to much damage to historic tombs. If you are interested in such spiritual practices there are many resources in New Orleans to learn about them. Just because tombs are in sometimes shocking disrepair, does not mean that they are abandoned.
