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(Garden District; designated city burial site 1833)
Designated a burial site in 1833, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans' Garden District is an active cemetery, tourist attraction, neighborhood recreation center and community gathering place. Truly an outdoor museum of 19th and 20th century funerary architecture, the cemetery's walls and vaults had badly deteriorated, posing long-term threats to the site's structural stability. The Partners in Preservation grant allowed Save Our Cemeteries, a non-profit group, to complete the third phase of restoration at the cemetery.
What is the historical significance of this site?
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is located in New Orleans' historic Garden District and boasts a wide variety of 19th and 20th century funerary architecture. An active cemetery since 1833, Lafayette is the final resting place of Samuel J. Peters, an early proponent of public education in New Orleans, Confederate General Harry T. Hayes, and Staunton Burdette, who compiled the Baptist Hymnal. A veritable history of the city - yellow fever epidemics, immigration, funerary symbolism, architecture - is reflected in the walls and tombs of Lafayette No. 1. The cemetery is currently active, hosting approximately 17 burials each year and acting as a repository for unique New Orleans traditions such as All Saints Day. It's also a local attraction, drawing over 20,000 neighbors, tourists, and students annually. Save Our Cemeteries, the cemetery's steward, was awarded a grant by the World Monuments Fund in 1996 to create a three-phase preservation plan for the site.
What is the current use of grant money and/or state of restoration?
The Partners in Preservation grant allowed Save Our Cemeteries to complete the third phase of its restoration efforts, which includes reinforcement of the wall vaults and improved drainage of the site. The wall is now complete, and adds to the city-wide effort to repair post-Katrina damage. It also continues to serve as a landmark in this neighborhood.
Why this site needs your continued support:
Lafayette No. 1 is an integral part of life in the Garden District. Neighbors and visitors alike take strolls through the site, enjoying the history and beauty of the cemetery. Several motion pictures have been filmed on the grounds, and the cemetery has served as host to numerous neighborhood gatherings, including the annual National Night Out Against Crime. The cemetery's role as a tourist attraction means that it has an economic function for the city as well. The completed restoration allows the cemetery to once again become an active participant in neighborhood traditions, continuing the spirit of this great New Orleans haunt.
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