One of New Orleans’s oldest surviving cemeteries, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 was placed on the Watch in 1996 because of its advanced state of deterioration. Established in 1833, Lafayette No. 1 is located in New Orleans’ historic Garden District and was among the city's earliest and most significant above-ground burial sites. It remains in use today.
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One of New Orleans’s oldest surviving cemeteries, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 was placed on the Watch in 1996 because of its advanced state of deterioration. Established in 1833, Lafayette No. 1 is located in New Orleans’ historic Garden District and was among the city's earliest and most significant above-ground burial sites. It remains in use today.
Distinguished by its intersecting avenues designed to accommodate funeral processions, it was the city's first planned cemetery. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places by virtue of its significant history, location, and architectural importance, it retains its original size and configuration, and contains a variety of tomb types and styles. Following its model, over 30 above-ground cemeteries, traditionally referred to as “Cities of the Dead,” were constructed in New Orleans in the nineteenth century. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused considerable damage to the historic walls and tombs of Lafayette No. 1, which resulted in its placement on the Watch again in 2006.
