St Louis Cemetery No 1

Lonely Planet review

St Louis Cemetery No 1 received the remains of most early Creoles. The shallow water table necessitated aboveground burials, with bodies placed in the family tombs you see to this day. Don't enter the cemetery alone; if the ghosts don't get you, the muggers might.

Near the entrance is the purported resting place of voodoo queen Marie Laveau. Also buried here are Ernest 'Dutch' Morial, New Orleans' first black mayor, civil rights figure Homer Plessy, architect Henry Latrobe and countless others.

A walking tour will lead you to the noteworthy sights. Even if you aren't interested in a tour, it's a good idea to coincide your visit with one so you aren't alone within the cemetery. Vandalism and statuary theft are the most common crimes, but visitors should be mindful of their safety.