The Oldest Cemetery in New Orleans

What is the oldest cemetery in New Orleans? This is one of the most frequently asked questions about New Orleans’ cemeteries.

The oldest existing cemetery in New Orleans is St. Louis Cemetery #1, located in the Treme District right outside of the French Quarter. Established in 1789, it was the city’s principal burying ground until 1823.

But what about before then? Well, the earliest burials were done along the Mississippi River Bank. The city’s first official cemetery, St. Peter Street Cemetery, was established in 1725 along the upper side of the French Quarter on St. Peter Street between Burgundy and Rampart Streets. The burials were entirely below ground! It was common during a hard rain that citizens would witness their loved ones popping up and floating down the street! In 1801, merchant John Pintard wrote: It is of little consequence whether one’s carcass is given prey to crayfish on land – or the catfish of the Mississippi – I believe in either case of burial – a body is speedily devoured & transmigrated in crayfish or catfish – dressed by a French cook & feasted upon by a greasy Monk – a fair lady – a petit maître or a savage who in their turn supply some future banquet – Heavens what luxury! Mon Dieu, quelle sort! Give my bones terra firma I pray. 

In 1790s, when businessman Don Andres Almonester y Roxas was building St. Louis Cathedral, he used bricks from the old walls of St. Peter Street Cemetery. Some historians believe that even though the cathedral was largely rebuilt in 1850, many of the bricks from the old cemetery are still present today in the structure, hence, some of the haunting stories?!

Despite closing over 230 years ago, St. Peter Street Cemetery is still “popping up.” In 1972, a woman looking for bottles found five coffins at what is now the Maison Dupuy Hotel. In 1984, workmen building condos on St. Peter Street discovered remains from thirty-two graves. In 2011, a French Quarter resident was building a pool on his property and found fifteen coffins with people who were determined to be of African, Native American, and mixed heritage. They were given a memorial mass in 2015 at St. Augustine Church and interred with those found in 1984 in the Portuguese Benevolent Society Tomb in St. Louis Cemetery #1. 

Keep in mind, while New Orleans’ cemeteries have definite boundaries and walls, their history and influence can be found everywhere. 

To learn more about these cemeteries (and more) you can Book a Tour or purchase my book Stories from the St. Louis Cemeteries of New Orleans