5 Cemeteries of New Orleans – Anne Rice’s & other famous graves

New Orleans cemeteries are not quiet afterthoughts. They are part of the city’s story, shaped by yellow fever, immigration, religion, wealth, storms, and the practical problem of burying people below ground. This two-hour tour connects those subjects across six cemeteries, including Anne Rice’s grave and the city’s striking Hurricane Katrina memorial.

I like the way the tour compares Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish burial customs instead of treating every cemetery as the same. I also like the compact morning schedule: you finish around noon, with the rest of the day free for the French Quarter, museums, or lunch. The main drawback is that the route covers a lot quickly, so anyone wanting long stretches for quiet reflection or photography may find the pace brisk.

Key points to know before booking

• Six cemeteries in about two hours: Greenwood, Cypress Grove, Gates of Juhad, Metairie, St. Patrick’s cemeteries, Charity Hospital Cemetery, and the Katrina memorial are covered through four main stops.
• Anne Rice is one of the featured graves: Metairie Cemetery also includes the graves of Louie Prima, actors, and local mafiosos.
• Burial customs are the real subject: You learn why New Orleans uses above-ground tombs and how Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Irish traditions differ.
• The Irish cemeteries show social change: St. Patrick No. 1 has modest, crowded graves, while St. Patrick No. 2 has larger and more ornate monuments.
• The Katrina memorial adds a modern, serious chapter: It honors 80 people who died in the 2005 hurricane.
• Small-group format: The maximum is 22 people, and the tour starts at 10:00 am near public transportation.

Why New Orleans cemeteries tell the city’s story

I would not book this simply to collect famous names. Anne Rice’s grave is a draw, but the better reason to go is the way cemeteries reveal how New Orleans developed.

The city’s burial practices differ from what you see in much of the United States. Above-ground tombs are a practical response to local conditions, but they also reflect family traditions, religious customs, and social status. A good guide can turn a row of stone tombs into a lesson about disease, migration, money, and faith.

That guide matters here. Bobby, Chris, and Christopher are the names connected with the tour experience. Christopher is described as willing to match the group’s pace and answer questions, while Chris is noted for being prompt, friendly, and easy to talk with. Bobby is praised for making the tour personal and entertaining. Since the group can reach 22 people, your experience may vary by date, but these guide details are useful when you are choosing a tour built around storytelling.

The tour is also described as easily walkable, with time for photos and questions. You should still expect to move between several cemetery areas and spend much of the two hours on your feet. Wear comfortable shoes, and bring water, especially in warm weather.

Greenwood and Cypress Grove: monuments, rivalry, and burial customs

The first part of the morning combines Greenwood Cemetery, Cypress Grove Cemetery, and the Gates of Juhad Cemetery. Although the schedule groups them together, they offer different religious and architectural settings.

Greenwood is presented as a beautiful cemetery with imposing graves and statues. The focus here is not only on the people buried there, but also on the way New Orleans families built memorials to express status, grief, and identity. Several well-known graves are included, giving you recognizable names alongside the broader story of the cemetery.

From there, Cypress Grove adds a Protestant perspective. The tour includes two of the largest and most monumental graves in New Orleans, along with the unusual feud between the families who built them. That story gives the stonework a human edge. Instead of seeing grand tombs as anonymous displays of wealth, you get a sense of how pride and rivalry shaped them.

The Gates of Juhad Cemetery brings a Jewish tradition into the comparison. Here, the guide explains how Jewish burial practices in New Orleans differ from Catholic and Protestant customs. That comparison is one of the strongest parts of the morning because it helps you notice details you might otherwise pass without understanding.

The first stop lasts about 30 minutes, so do not expect a slow, exhaustive look at every monument. The advantage is range. In one short section, you see different faith traditions, memorial styles, and social histories. The tradeoff is that the tour is selective rather than meditative.

Metairie Cemetery: Anne Rice and New Orleans celebrity history

Metairie Cemetery is the tour’s most obvious draw for many people. It is often called one of the most beautiful cemeteries in America, and the visit includes the grave of Anne Rice, author of Interview with the Vampire.

Rice’s grave gives literature and popular culture a place in the route, but she is not the only notable figure here. You also see the grave of Louie Prima, the rock and roll musician, along with graves connected to actors and mafiosos. This mix reflects New Orleans well: music, fiction, entertainment, crime, and old family names all share the same ground.

I like this stop because it balances famous people with the cemetery’s larger visual appeal. If you come mainly for Anne Rice, you still get more than a single photograph. If you are less interested in literary or music landmarks, the cemetery’s monuments and the guide’s explanation of the people buried there keep the visit worthwhile.

The scheduled time is about 30 minutes. That is enough for a guided introduction and selected graves, but not enough to wander through every section. Keep your expectations realistic. This is not a free afternoon in Metairie Cemetery. It is a focused visit that fits into a broader route.

St. Patrick No. 1 and No. 2: two Irish communities in stone

The St. Patrick section may be the most useful stop for understanding New Orleans immigration. It includes three separate burial grounds: St. Patrick No. 1, St. Patrick No. 2, and Charity Hospital Cemetery.

St. Patrick No. 1 is the oldest Irish Catholic cemetery in the city. It began with immigrants who fled the Irish Potato Famine. These early Irish New Orleanians were poor, and their graves reflect that hardship. The burial ground is described as modest and haphazard, without the grand scale found in later cemeteries.

Across the street, St. Patrick No. 2 tells a different story. It was built a generation later, when parts of the Irish American community had gained money and influence. The graves become imposing, ornate, and monumental. The contrast is easy to understand because the two cemeteries sit so close together: one shows an immigrant community struggling to survive, while the other shows what prosperity made possible.

This is where a guide adds real value. On your own, you might notice that one cemetery looks plainer and another looks grander. The explanation connects those differences to time, class, migration, and the Irish community’s early struggles in New Orleans.

Next door, Charity Hospital Cemetery carries a darker story. It was used as a mass burial ground for victims of yellow fever. The guide explains why yellow fever was so widespread in New Orleans and how the disease shaped the city’s past.

The entire St. Patrick section is allotted about 30 minutes. That makes it a quick lesson, but it is also one of the clearest examples of how much ground this tour covers. You move from famine-era poverty to later prosperity, then to the public health crisis that killed so many people.

The Hurricane Katrina Memorial: a modern and moving final stop

The Katrina memorial changes the mood of the tour. Earlier stops focus on old cemeteries, religious traditions, and long-dead public figures. This memorial brings the city’s recent past into view.

It honors 80 local people who lost their lives in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The memorial also serves as their cemetery, giving the site both a commemorative and burial role. The guide shares the story of how their bodies were lost by local authorities and later found in an obscure local freezer several years afterward.

That account is difficult, but it explains why the memorial matters. The people buried there were not simply names connected with a disaster. Their lives, deaths, and final burial became part of a painful chapter in New Orleans history. The final stop gives the tour an emotional weight that a celebrity-grave route alone would not have.

The stop lasts around 30 minutes. You should allow room for a slower, more respectful mood here. The experience is still a guided tour, but this section is less about architecture and more about dignity, memory, and the city’s responsibility to its dead.

How the two-hour schedule works for a New Orleans day

The tour starts at 10:00 am at the Morning Call Coffee Stand, 5101 Canal Boulevard. It ends back at the same meeting point. The location is near public transportation, which helps if you are not using a car.

The four main itinerary sections are each listed at roughly 30 minutes:

• Greenwood, Cypress Grove, and Gates of Juhad
• Metairie Cemetery
• St. Patrick No. 1, St. Patrick No. 2, and Charity Hospital Cemetery
• The Hurricane Katrina Memorial

That timing is efficient, but the route is not designed for long, unstructured exploration. The value comes from the guide’s explanation and the number of distinct sites you see. You get a broad introduction to New Orleans burial customs without giving up the whole day.

The maximum group size is 22 people. That is not a private tour, but it is small enough for questions if the group remains engaged. Several guide comments highlight prompt starts, a friendly manner, and time for photographs. Still, if you want a very intimate experience, ask about the day’s group size before booking if that option is available.

The tour is offered in English and includes a mobile ticket. Alcohol and lunch are not included, though lunch is easy to plan afterward because you finish around midday.

Is the $29 price good value?

At $29 per person, I consider this a fair price for the amount of ground covered. You visit six distinct cemeteries or burial grounds, see several notable graves, and get a guide to explain customs that are not obvious at first glance.

The value is strongest if you are new to New Orleans cemeteries. You could visit some sites independently, but you would need to research the burial practices, identify the notable graves, and understand the differences between the Irish, Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant settings. The tour saves that work and puts the places into a connected story.

The value is weaker if you already know New Orleans cemetery history or want to spend a long time at one cemetery. The schedule moves quickly, and the tour does not include lunch or drinks. It is also a morning introduction, not a private architectural tour.

The very high rating, with 100 percent recommendation and a 4.9 score from 14 ratings, fits the tour’s strengths: strong guides, a manageable length, and unusual subject matter. The sample comments repeatedly praise Bobby, Chris, and Christopher for being welcoming, flexible, entertaining, and ready to answer questions. One person even described a solo tour in severe rain and thunder, saying the weather added atmosphere. That is a memorable detail, but I would not plan around stormy weather. Cemetery paths and outdoor stops are best enjoyed in safe conditions.

Who should book this cemetery tour?

I would recommend it to first-time New Orleans visitors who want history beyond the French Quarter. It suits readers, music fans, and anyone curious about Anne Rice, Louie Prima, or the city’s famous and infamous residents.

It is also a good choice for people who enjoy social history. The St. Patrick cemeteries show immigration and class change, while the Gates of Juhad stop adds a useful religious comparison. The yellow fever burial ground and Katrina memorial bring disease and disaster into the story without turning the tour into a simple list of famous graves.

Families and mixed-interest groups may find the two-hour length convenient. You get a clear subject, a morning start, and plenty of time afterward. People with limited walking ability should note that the experience is described as easily walkable, but the data does not provide a detailed accessibility plan. Ask the operator before booking if you need specific assistance.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a compact, guided explanation of why New Orleans cemeteries look and function as they do. The best parts are the contrast between religious traditions, the two St. Patrick cemeteries, the Anne Rice stop, and the serious final visit to the Katrina memorial.

Skip it if you prefer to explore one cemetery slowly, avoid difficult stories about disease and disaster, or dislike a schedule that covers several sites in quick succession. For most first-time visitors, though, $29 buys a useful morning, a clear look at the city’s burial customs, and context you would likely miss on your own.

FAQ

How long is the cemetery tour?

The tour lasts approximately two hours and begins at 10:00 am.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Morning Call Coffee Stand, 5101 Canal Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How many cemeteries are included?

The experience includes six unique cemeteries or burial grounds, grouped across the four main stops. The sites include Greenwood, Cypress Grove, Gates of Juhad, Metairie, St. Patrick No. 1, St. Patrick No. 2, and Charity Hospital Cemetery, along with the Hurricane Katrina memorial.

Is Anne Rice’s grave included?

Yes. The tour visits Anne Rice’s grave at Metairie Cemetery.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.