Historic Metairie Cemetery Walking Tour by Save Our Cemeteries

Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery is a city of the dead in the most literal New Orleans sense: Greek temples, Gothic tombs, Islamic-style monuments, obelisks, stained glass, and ironwork sit among live oaks on 65 carefully kept acres. This is not a ghost-story stroll. It is a calm look at burial customs, power, money, family, and the people who shaped New Orleans.

I like the small group limit of 16, which gives the guide room to answer questions and keep the walk personal. I also like that your $35 ticket supports Save Our Cemeteries, a nonprofit connected with cemetery preservation. The main drawback is focus: Metairie was built largely for wealthy New Orleanians, so you will see grand family tombs more than ordinary burial customs.

Key points to know before you book

• Grand architecture in one cemetery: Expect Greek, Gothic, Islamic-style, and classical tombs rather than rows of ordinary headstones.
• A strong New Orleans history lesson: The cemetery connects burial practices with mayors, governors, Carnival royalty, musicians, writers, business owners, and political figures.
• Guide Glenn Schiro is a major strength: He is praised for clear explanations, family stories, and an easy way with questions.
• A gentle 90-minute walk: The grounds are mostly flat, but New Orleans heat makes the 10 a.m. start and shaded pauses important.
• A small group capped at 16: You get more attention than on a large city tour, though the minimum of four can cause a cancellation.
• Not a haunted-cemetery performance: The tone is respectful and educational, with no focus on ghost stories or melodrama.

Why Lake Lawn Metairie feels different

New Orleans cemeteries are often called cities of the dead because above-ground tombs create streets, avenues, and small architectural worlds. Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery takes that idea to an impressive scale. Its 65 acres hold more than 9,000 people, and the grounds include monuments designed to be seen from every angle.

I find the appeal comes from the contrast. Live oaks and plants soften the stone, while mausoleums and monuments show the money and ambitions of the families who commissioned them. One turn can bring you from a solemn obelisk to a temple-like tomb, then on to delicate ironwork or colored glass.

The cemetery is also a useful place to understand how New Orleans remembers status. Nine Louisiana governors, seven New Orleans mayors, and 49 kings of Carnival are buried here. The list also includes three Confederate generals, musicians Louis Prima and Al Hirt, writer Anne Rice, and former Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson.

That list may sound like a roll call, but the tour works best when those names become people rather than trivia. A good guide can connect a grave to a family, a career, a neighborhood, or a period in the city’s past. Glenn Schiro has been especially praised for doing just that, bringing meaning to family stories instead of simply pointing out famous names.

What the 90-minute walk covers

The tour begins at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home and Cemeteries, at 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard. It starts at 10 a.m. and returns to the same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate pickup at the end.

You spend the full 90 minutes inside the cemetery. The route is not presented as a series of unrelated stops. Instead, the guide uses the monuments, tombs, and people buried there to explain New Orleans burial rites and local culture.

Expect to walk past several forms of funerary design. Greek temples give the cemetery a formal, classical feel. Gothic structures add pointed shapes and a more dramatic mood. Islamic-style tombs and obelisks show how varied the city’s memorial art can be. Marble, iron, and stained glass provide smaller details that are easy to miss when you explore alone.

The cemetery is mostly flat, which makes the walk manageable for most people. Still, the distance and heat matter. This is a walking tour rather than a quick roadside stop, and the sun can be strong. Early start times help, and a guide may pause beneath the trees when the heat rises.

The experience is leisurely rather than hurried. That is good news if you like time to look closely, ask questions, and take in the setting. It is less suitable if you want a fast list of famous names or a tightly packed sightseeing schedule.

The people beneath the monuments

The most useful part of this tour is the link between the cemetery and New Orleans itself. You are not only looking at tombs. You are seeing where political leaders, entertainers, businessmen, social figures, and notorious citizens were placed after death.

The cemetery includes the graves of madams and brothel owners as well as governors and mayors. That mix matters. It shows that New Orleans history cannot be reduced to official officeholders or grand public buildings. The city’s story also includes nightlife, music, business, Carnival, family fortunes, and people who operated outside polite society.

Louis Prima and Al Hirt give the cemetery a strong musical connection. Anne Rice adds a literary link, while Tom Benson connects the site to modern New Orleans sports. The many Carnival kings point to the importance of parade culture and public ceremony in the city.

I would not expect the guide to cover every one of the more than 9,000 burials in 90 minutes. The value is in seeing a thoughtful selection and understanding how the cemetery reflects the city. Glenn Schiro is repeatedly praised for his command of names and family connections, so you should have a chance to ask about the people or monuments that catch your eye.

This is also where the tour’s respectful tone matters. The walk deals with death, status, family loss, and the passage of time. It does not turn the cemetery into a stage for sensational tales. If you want ghost stories, this is not the right choice. If you want human stories told with care, it is a better fit.

Why the guide can make or break the experience

A cemetery can be beautiful and still feel confusing without context. You may see a striking tomb but have no idea who built it, why it looks that way, or what it says about the person inside. The guide supplies that missing connection.

Glenn Schiro is the guide most often singled out in the available feedback. His strengths are clear: strong command of New Orleans history, enthusiasm for cemetery culture, and the ability to keep the walk interesting without turning it into a performance.

That personal style matters in a group of up to 16. You are close enough to hear the explanation and ask a question without shouting across a crowd. The guide can also adjust the pace and use shaded spots when the temperature becomes uncomfortable.

I like the fact that the tour seems to leave room for sadness as well as curiosity. Family stories are not treated as decorative anecdotes. The cemetery is a place of loss, and the best explanations acknowledge that. You can enjoy the architecture while still remembering why these structures exist.

The experience is offered in English. Confirmation arrives when you book, and mobile tickets make the entry details simple to keep on your phone.

Price, group size, and what your ticket supports

At $35 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend 90 minutes in New Orleans, especially since you can view the cemetery without taking a guided tour. The question is what you want from the visit.

If you already know a great deal about New Orleans burial customs and famous residents, you may prefer to explore at your own pace. But most of the value here comes from the stories and connections. A guide can explain why the cemetery looks the way it does, point out people you might otherwise miss, and place the monuments within local history.

The group cap of 16 improves that value. You are not paying for a large bus-style presentation. You are paying for access to a guide who can speak to a manageable group and respond to questions.

There is also a preservation angle. Save Our Cemeteries is a nonprofit organization, and the ticket helps support its work. That gives the price more purpose than a standard sightseeing charge. You still should not book solely because it is a charitable purchase, but it is a welcome part of the equation.

The tour is often booked about 14 days ahead. That is useful planning information if you have fixed dates in New Orleans. I would reserve early if this is important to your schedule, while also remembering that the tour needs at least four people signed up 12 hours before departure. If that minimum is not met, the tour can be canceled and you will be offered another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Practical advice for the 10 a.m. start

Wear comfortable walking shoes. The ground is mostly flat, but you will be on your feet for about an hour and a half. The cemetery has shade from live oaks, yet you should plan for heat, especially during warmer months.

The early time is one of the tour’s practical strengths. The sun is not yet at its strongest, and shaded areas are more useful at the start of the day. Bring water and use sun protection, although those items are not listed as part of the tour.

Because the walk returns to its starting point, you can arrange the rest of your day from the same general location. The experience does not include transportation between sightseeing sites, so you should plan how you will reach 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard before the 10 a.m. start.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. No special fitness level is listed, but you should be comfortable walking for 90 minutes. If hot weather is a concern, pay attention to the forecast. The tour requires good weather and may be moved or refunded if conditions are poor.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not refunded, so leave yourself some room if your New Orleans plans are uncertain.

Who will enjoy this cemetery tour most

I would recommend it to anyone who likes architecture, local history, genealogy, cemetery art, or the less polished side of city culture. It is also a good choice if you have already seen the French Quarter and want an experience away from the busiest streets.

Families can find plenty to discuss here, though the subject is death and some stories may not suit very young children. History-minded visitors will get the most from the names, political connections, and social background. Architecture fans should pay attention to the different styles of tombs and the use of marble, iron, and stained glass.

This is less suited to someone looking for a dramatic haunted walk. It is also not the best match if your main interest is traditional New Orleans cemetery life among ordinary families. Metairie Cemetery was created and used largely by wealthy people, and its grand monuments reflect that.

I would also think twice if you dislike slow walks or outdoor heat. The cemetery is mostly flat, but the setting is open in places, and the 90-minute pace favors attention over speed.

Should you book the Historic Metairie Cemetery Walking Tour?

Book it if you want a calm, well-explained look at New Orleans through its cemeteries. The combination of striking tomb architecture, famous residents, burial customs, and a small group makes this more useful than simply wandering among the monuments with no context.

The strongest reason to choose it is the guide. Glenn Schiro’s clear, personal storytelling has made a strong impression, and the tour’s best moments seem to come from the way he connects families and individual lives to the wider city.

Skip it if you want ghosts, spectacle, or a quick celebrity grave checklist. Also think about the heat and the cemetery’s focus on the wealthy. For the right visitor, though, $35 is fair value, especially since the ticket supports cemetery preservation and gives you a respectful, informative 90-minute walk.

FAQ

Where does the Historic Metairie Cemetery Walking Tour begin?

The tour begins at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home and Cemeteries, located at 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 10 a.m. and ends back at the same meeting point.

How long is the tour?

The guided walk lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum group size of 16 people. At least four people must be signed up 12 hours before departure for it to operate.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of people may also lead to a different date or a full refund.