Katrina Memorial, New Orleans

Next to Cypress Grove Cemetery, is a unique final resting place for the "unclaimed and unidentified victims" of Hurricane Katrina from August, 2005.   Over 1,110 residents died, and this memorial was a great reminder of the huge image Katrina had and still has with the on going rebuilding efforts of 10,000 homes.

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1- New Orleans

Established in 1833, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in the Garden District, this popular tourist attraction is located just one block from St. Charles line of the streetcar line.  It was originally established for the city cemetery of Lafayette.  Over the past few decades, many tombs were vandalized or ruined, but the group "Save our Cemeteries" has worked hard to restore this very historic cemetery in New Orleans. 

St. Louis No. 1 Cemetery, New Orleans

Established in 1789, St. Louis No. 1 Cemetery is the oldest and one of most famous cemeteries in New Orleans.   The cemetery is one block from the French Quarter and eight blocks from the Mississippi River.  If you visit St. Louis No. 1, you can go on daily ghost or historical cemetery.   The cemetery has inspired many Anne Rice stories and was featured in the classic 1969 movie "Easy Rider". 

This is what is called a "Oven Vault" These were constructed in the mid 19th century and foreshadowed the modern mausoleum which became popular in the mid 20th century.

The renowned Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau is believed to be interred this family crypt.

St. Louis No. 1 Cemetery is located on Basin Street at St. Louis one block north of the French Quarter. 

St. Patricks Cemeteries, New Orleans

The St. Patrick Cemeteries are Catholic Cemeteries operated by the Archdiocese of New Orleans.   They were originally built by the Irish communities to bury their dead.  The above sculptures are not graves, but caught my eye while strolling thru some of the oldest cemeteries in New Orleans. They are located at 143 City Park Avenue near Canal Street. 

Cypress Grove Cemetery, New Orleans

Cypress Grove Cemetery was established in 1838 and was the first cemetery built to honor the New Orleans firefighters and their families.  It's sometimes called the fireman's cemetery.

This cemetery is located at 120 City Park Avenue, across from the end of the Canal Street trolly.  

51 Cemeteries Project: # 39 Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans

Greenwood Cemetery was created in 1852 by the Firemens Charitable Benevolent Association to relieve overcrowding from it's neighboring cemetery Cypress Grove (my next posting). It opening coincided with the yellow fever epidemic which claimed 8,000 New Orleans residents. For those of you not familiar with New Orleans cemeteries, most of all of the tombs are buried above ground due to the low sea level.

The cemetery is located uptown, take the Canal Street Trolley to City Park Avenue (the end of the line).

Five New Orleans Cemeteries and Katrina Memorial Coming Soon...

I've spent the past two days visiting and photographing five New Orleans Cemeteries and a Katrina Memorial (for the unclaimed and unidentified victims).    I hope to start posting highlights from each cemetery this weekend! The above in a sneak preview! 

Grave Robbers in Maryland

New cemetery images are coming very soon, I promise.   

WJLA-TV (ABC Channel 7) in Washington D.C. did a story tonight on Grave Robbers in Maryland.  Here's a link:  http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/06/men-accused-of-stealing-from-graves-61902.html