TO THE HEAVENS
Many of the cemeteries in New Orleans are above ground. This unusual characteristic results from the city’s French, Spanish and Caribbean historical and cultural influences and its high water table.
There are approximately forty-two historical and culturally significant cemeteries in New Orleans. They include family tombs, civic association tombs, and wall vaults. They are primarily of neo-classical design, laid out in regular patterns resembling city streets and referred to colloquially as “Cities of the Dead.” The earliest cemeteries date back to the beginning of the 19th century.
Today, many tombs bear the scars of time, war, weather, the rising water table, neglect, abandonment, and vandalism. The deterioration was such that a 1974 New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper series on the condition of the cemeteries referred to them as “Slums of the Dead.”
The cemeteries also suffer wear and tear from visits by thousands of tourists each year. As a significant tourist attraction, they contribute substantial revenue to the city. However, many are still active, providing a sacred resting place for the deceased and the mourning and contemplation of their families and friends. These competing interests have led to disputes among the various parties and periodic closures of some cemeteries to tour groups. Finding a way to balance these two seemingly incompatible uses is a significant challenge for New Orleans’ city government and tourist interests.
These cemeteries are unique and hauntingly beautiful, a visual feast.
