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Historic Cemetery District Tour
“The odor of a fragrant flower doth last long after outer loveliness is gone, so when a beauteous life seems spent and past, the sweetness of its influence liveth on."
-The Lazarus family memorial to their daughter, Virginia Dispersed of Judah Cemetery
Cemetery tours of The Historic New Orleans Cemetery District (H.N.O.C.D.) at the end of Canal Street make it possible to take at least three cemeteries in one hour. And, the true taphophile can indulge his or her taphophilia by exploring several more cemeteries after the guided tour.
Visitors and some locals, have no idea of the wealth of history, art and culture which abound in this necropolis. The Historic Cemetery District is a short streetcar ride from the French Quarter, Central Business, Warehouse District, and Convention Center.
The Historic New Orleans Cemetery District is comprised of the oldest Jewish cemeteries, two Masonic cemeteries, three Catholic cemeteries, three cemeteries owned by fraternal societies, and Holt Cemetery owned by the city of New Orleans. The official New Orleans Katrina Memorial is located here in the former Charity Hospital Cemetery on Canal Street.
With a little help from your guide you will be able to read Hebrew entries in the Jewish cemeteries, learn Hebrew symbolism and explore the history of the Jewish people of New Orleans.
Odd Fellows Rest is across the street from Cypress Grove at the corner of Canal Street and City Park Avenue. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is the U.S. branch of the Odd Fellows which began in England. The Odd Fellows motto is Friendship, Love and Truth, symbolized by a chain with three links. What is an “Odd Fellow?” You’ll learn that when you take the tour.
Masonic cemeteries 1 and 2 are a couple of blocks down the street on City Park Avenue. If you’re not exhausted at the end of your trek, you can walk two blocks down City Park Avenue to Masonic Cemeteries 1 and 2, and finish up with a walk of another block to Holt Cemetery which is exclusively in ground burial.
The Historic New Orleans Cemetery District tour includes Dispersed of Judah, St. Patrick Cemetery and Odd Fellows Rest.
Hours of operation: 8:30 – 4:30 except Odd Fellows which is open until sunset. Tours are one hour and $10.00 a person.
Reserve your tour by calling 504-914-2039 or via email at info@tour-new-orleans.com. Discounts for groups of 10 or more traveling together, student and volunteer groups.
The Historic New Orleans Cemetery District is comprised of the oldest Jewish cemeteries, two Masonic cemeteries, three Catholic cemeteries, three cemeteries owned by fraternal societies, and Holt Cemetery owned by the city of New Orleans. The official New Orleans Katrina Memorial is located here in the former Charity Hospital Cemetery on Canal Street.
Most of these cemeteries were built in the mid 1840s, a time of burgeoning population growth in New Orleans. It was also the era of sweeping Cholera and Yellow Fever epidemics.
With a little help from your guide you will be able to read Hebrew entries in the Jewish cemeteries, learn Hebrew symbolism and explore the history of the Jewish people of New Orleans.
The three Catholic Cemeteries, St. Patrick 1, 2, and 3 were built to accommodate the Irish immigrants who streamed into New Orleans during the 1840s, fleeing the difficult times in Ireland. The St. Patrick cemeteries have the typical above ground family tombs a visitor to New Orleans expects to see.
The fraternal society cemeteries Cypress Grove and Greenwood, are owned and operated by the Fireman’s Charitable and Benevolent Association. Greenwood Cemetery is across the street on City Park Avenue. It is a densely packed city of the dead. Street names identify the different sections, and cemetery itself is reminiscent of crowded New Orleans neighborhoods.
Cypress Grove is at the corner of Canal Street and City Park Avenue. It has a variety of tomb types and outstanding society tombs.
Odd Fellows Rest is across the street from Cypress Grove at the corner of Canal Street and City Park Avenue. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is the U.S. branch of the Odd Fellows which began in England. The Odd Fellows motto is Friendship, Love and Truth, symbolized by a chain with three links. What is an “Odd Fellow?” You’ll learn that when you take the tour.Masonic cemeteries 1 and 2 are a couple of blocks down the street on City Park Avenue. If you’re not exhausted at the end of your trek, you can walk two blocks down City Park Avenue to Masonic Cemeteries 1 and 2, and finish up with a walk of another block to Holt Cemetery which is exclusively in ground burial.
The Historic New Orleans Cemetery District tour includes Dispersed of Judah, St. Patrick Cemetery and Odd Fellows Rest.
Hours of operation: 8:30 – 4:30 except Odd Fellows which is open until sunset. Tours are one hour and $10.00 a person.
Reserve your tour by calling 504-914-2039 or via email at info@tour-new-orleans.com. Discounts for groups of 10 or more traveling together, student and volunteer groups.
Map of Canal Street/Cemeteries Streetcar Line and Meeting Place for Cemetery District Tour
View Canal Streetcar Line and New Orleans Cemetery District in a larger map or in your mobile Maps app.