New Orleans Metairie Cemetery Tour: Millionaires and Mausoleums

Metairie Cemetery gives New Orleans history a dramatic setting: a former racetrack shaded by about a thousand trees, filled with marble mausoleums, Greek temples, pyramids, Islamic-style pavilions, weeping angels, and even crying dog sculptures. Sally, the guide most often named in the feedback, turns those monuments into stories about politicians, jazz musicians, mob bosses, madams, and local business dynasties.

I like two things here. First, the tour explains burial customs and tomb symbolism, not just famous names. Second, the small group, capped at 18 people, leaves room for questions and personal attention. The main drawback is simple: this is a two-hour outdoor walk, and some side paths are bumpy. Rain, heat, or a fast pace can change the experience.

Key things to know before you go

• A cemetery with a surprising past: Metairie began as a racetrack, not a graveyard, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• More than famous graves: You’ll learn about burial practices, embalming, architecture, regulations, and the meaning behind funerary art.
• Sally is a major draw: Her research, storytelling, and personal interest in New Orleans cemeteries shape much of the tour.
• A manageable group size: No more than 18 people are booked, making it easier to hear and ask questions.
• Bring weather protection: Bottled water is not included, and the tour requires good weather.
• A useful New Orleans orientation: The guide also shares tips about local food, music, and culture.

Why Metairie Cemetery is worth your time

Many New Orleans cemeteries are known for above-ground tombs, but Metairie Cemetery has a particularly theatrical feel. You do not simply walk past rows of graves. You move through a broad, tree-filled setting where families built grand structures to express wealth, faith, grief, ambition, and social standing.

The cemetery covers 127 acres and is often described as one of the finest cemeteries in the world. That is a bold claim, but the setting gives it some weight. Marble tombs take the place of ordinary headstones, and the mix of styles is unusually wide. You may see a structure modeled after a Greek temple near an Islamic-style pavilion, then encounter angels, animals, pyramids, and elaborate family mausoleums.

The former racetrack is part of the story. Metairie Cemetery was created on a site with an earlier sporting identity, which adds a distinctly New Orleans twist to the setting. Today, the broad grounds feel calm and pastoral, but the people connected to the cemetery include many of the city’s most powerful, famous, controversial, and eccentric figures.

That contrast is what makes the tour work. You get beauty, architecture, social history, local gossip, and questions about death all in one walk.

What happens during the two-hour walk

The activity takes place at Lake Lawn Metairie, at 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard in New Orleans. The tour begins and ends at the same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup location.

The walk is focused on Metairie Cemetery itself. You’ll be guided to tombs and monuments that are especially useful for explaining the cemetery’s design, its residents, and New Orleans customs. The guide points out architectural features and symbols, then connects them to the people and period behind each structure.

Expect a mix of names and themes. The cemetery includes politicians, jazz musicians, Storyville madams, mob bosses, fried-chicken tycoons, and vampire novelists. That range keeps the tour from feeling like a dry list of wealthy families. One stop may explain a grand family tomb, while another opens the door to scandal, rivalry, local business, music, or literary history.

The guide also discusses how people are interred in New Orleans. That is one of the more useful parts of the tour because it helps you understand why the city’s cemeteries look so different from ordinary American burial grounds. You’ll hear about customs, regulations, and embalming, along with the meaning behind images such as angels and animals.

The pace is designed to be comfortable for adults, but do not assume every guide walks at the same speed. One guide, Glenn, was specifically noted as moving quickly. If you need a slower pace, say so at the start. The group size is limited to 18, and the guide makes time for questions.

Sally’s storytelling and the human side of the cemetery

Sally receives especially strong praise for turning cemetery history into something personal and entertaining. Her approach is not limited to dates and names. She brings out the scandals, grudges, rivalries, ambitions, and private dramas connected to the people buried here.

That matters because ornate tombs can blur together after a while. A story gives each one a purpose. Instead of seeing another marble structure, you begin to notice who paid for it, what image the family wanted to project, and how that person fit into New Orleans society.

Sally is also an author and has researched cemeteries beyond Metairie. That background shows in the way she answers questions about burial customs and cemetery rules. She is clearly comfortable with both the large historical picture and the small details that make a stop memorable.

The tour can also include lighter moments. Friendly crows have become part of the experience for some groups, and the cemetery’s unusual atmosphere can produce surprises along the way. One guide even arranged access to a weeping angel, though you should not assume that every visit includes the same special access.

If Sally is not your guide, Glenn has also been praised for being entertaining and well informed. The exact guide may depend on the date you book, so the experience can have a slightly different rhythm from one departure to the next.

The architecture: marble, symbols, and grand statements

The buildings are the main visual reason to book this tour. Metairie Cemetery is not a plain lawn with occasional markers. It is a collection of small monuments, each shaped by taste, religion, money, and status.

You might see Greek-inspired designs, pyramid forms, Islamic-style elements, and sculptures of angels or dogs. The guide explains what these features mean and why families selected particular images. That context helps you look beyond the surface. A weeping angel is not just a striking photograph. It can lead to a discussion about mourning, belief, or the way a family wanted to be remembered.

The scale also matters. A family mausoleum can feel like a private building rather than a grave marker. Walking among these structures shows how New Orleans families adapted burial to the city’s climate, customs, and social traditions.

I would bring a camera, but do not let photography replace the guided explanation. The most interesting details may be small: a carved figure, a symbol tucked into a facade, or a design choice that makes sense only after the guide explains it.

The tree cover is another plus. Much of the cemetery is shaded, which makes the walk more pleasant than an exposed urban tour. It does not remove the need for water or weather planning, but it helps.

Famous and infamous residents

The title Millionaires and Mausoleums gives you a good idea of the focus. This is a tour about people who had money, influence, notoriety, or an unusual place in New Orleans culture.

You may hear about politicians and business figures alongside jazz musicians and Storyville madams. Mob bosses appear in the wider story, as do fried-chicken entrepreneurs and vampire novelists. The appeal is not only seeing a famous grave. It is learning how these people intersected with the city’s economy, music, nightlife, politics, and myths.

For many visitors, Anne Rice is a particular point of interest. The tour may appeal to you if you want to see her grave, but it offers more than a single literary stop. The cemetery’s wider cast of characters is what gives the visit its shape.

I like that the stories are not limited to respectable civic figures. New Orleans is famous for its complicated characters, and the tour does not tidy them up. Scandal and ambition are part of the subject. That makes the experience more lively than a standard monument walk.

At the same time, you should book this only if you are comfortable with the subject. It is a cemetery tour, and the discussion can include death, embalming, interment, grief, and burial regulations. The tone appears to be informative and often humorous, but the setting remains a place of remembrance.

Value at $35 per person

At $35, this is a mid-priced two-hour walking tour. The admission to Metairie Cemetery is included, as is an expert guide. You are paying for access to the site, but mainly for interpretation.

You could walk through a cemetery on your own and see many of the same buildings. What you would miss is the connection between architecture, symbolism, burial practice, and New Orleans personalities. For someone who enjoys history or unusual local culture, that added context makes the price reasonable.

The small group helps the value. With a maximum of 18 people, you are less likely to feel lost in a crowd, and you have a better chance to ask about a particular tomb or symbol. The guide also shares suggestions for food, music, and culture, which can make the tour useful beyond the cemetery gates.

I would not call it a bargain for someone who only wants a quick look at the mausoleums. Two hours is a serious commitment, and you may find the experience slow if you are not interested in architecture, genealogy, death customs, or local personalities.

The tour is usually booked about 22 days ahead, so popular dates may not remain open until the last minute. If it fits your plans, booking early makes sense.

Weather, walking, and practical details

This is an outdoor activity, and good weather is required. Rain can make the paths unpleasant, and the cemetery may cancel in poor conditions. If that happens, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

One rainy-day group continued in heavy rain because they wanted to proceed. Sally stayed in contact, offered the choice to cancel or reschedule, brought extra umbrellas, and sought shelter when the rain became severe. That shows useful care, but I would still plan for normal New Orleans weather rather than count on a dramatic rainy-day tour.

Wear comfortable shoes. Some side paths are uneven and may not suit mobility devices or strollers. The main walk is manageable for most people, but the cemetery is not perfectly smooth throughout. If you have mobility concerns, ask about the route before booking.

Bring water because bottled water is not included. Light clothing, sun protection, and an umbrella are sensible choices depending on the forecast. Shade helps, but a two-hour walk can still feel warm.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. The tour is offered in English, and mobile tickets make entry simple.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this tour if you like local history with a personal edge. It is especially suited to people who enjoy architecture, cemeteries, genealogy, New Orleans folklore, music history, or unusual stories about powerful families.

It also works well for couples and families with older children who can manage a two-hour walk. The pace is not described as strenuous, but the subject matter and uneven paths make it less suitable for very young children or anyone who needs stroller-friendly routes.

You do not need to be an expert. In fact, the guide’s explanations of symbols and burial practices are useful precisely because many visitors will not know what they are seeing.

I would be more cautious if you are looking for a quick celebrity-grave stop, an air-conditioned activity, or a tour with no walking. This experience asks you to give the cemetery time. Its value grows as the stories accumulate.

Cancellation and booking advice

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.

Since weather can affect the outing, check the forecast before your cancellation deadline. The experience is often booked ahead, so reserve early if you have a fixed New Orleans itinerary.

The meeting point is 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard, and the tour ends there. Allow enough time to arrive without rushing, since the activity does not include transportation to another New Orleans attraction.

Should you book the Metairie Cemetery tour?

Yes, if you want more than a quick look at marble tombs. The combination of architecture, burial customs, famous residents, local scandal, and guide-led storytelling gives you a fuller sense of how New Orleans remembers its dead.

The strongest reason to book is the guide. Sally’s research and storytelling have made a particularly strong impression, while Glenn offers a quicker-paced alternative. The limited group size, included admission, and two-hour format keep the experience focused.

Skip it if you dislike cemetery visits, need perfectly smooth paths, or prefer a short indoor activity. Otherwise, this is a thoughtful and entertaining way to spend part of a New Orleans day, especially if you want local stories that go beyond the usual French Quarter circuit.

FAQ

How long is the Metairie Cemetery tour?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the tour meet?

It starts at 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $35 per person.

Is admission to Metairie Cemetery included?

Yes. Entry and admission to Metairie Cemetery are included in the tour price.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 18 travelers.

Is bottled water provided?

No. Bottled water is not included, so you should bring your own.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.