New Orleans: Historic Cemetery Walking Tour & Katrina Memorial

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/16

Duration2h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Three Cemeteries, One Afternoon: New Orleans' Stories Above Ground

You walk through three historic New Orleans cemeteries with a guide who knows the burial traditions, Masonic history, and stories of those lost to disease and disaster. The 1.5–2 hour tour includes St. Patrick #1 & #2 and the Katrina Memorial, with no entry fees or transportation to arrange separately. Bring water and comfortable shoes for uneven ground.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore New Orleans historic cemeteries

Walk through St. Patrick Cemetery #2
Explore cemeteries near City Park
Visit Katrina Memorial at Charity Hospital Cemetery

The Experience

You're standing in front of St. Patrick Cemetery #2, and the air feels different here — quieter, older. The tombs rise around you like a small city of the dead, and your guide is already pointing out the way the heat and humidity shaped how New Orleans buries its people. The above-ground vaults aren't just practical; they're part of the city's identity, and for the next 1.5 to 2 hours, you're walking through that identity with someone who knows how to tell it. This historic cemetery walking tour moves through three sites: St. Patrick #1, St. Patrick #2, and the Katrina Memorial at Charity Hospital Cemetery, each one a different layer of the city's past.

The storytelling is the real draw here. Your guide walks you through the maze of tombs and explains the burial customs that took root in New Orleans — why the vaults sit above ground, how the Masons and Catholics left their marks on the cemeteries, and what the records tell you about who lived and died here. You'll hear about Yellow Fever, hurricanes, and the thousands buried behind the Katrina Memorial. It's not morbid; it's reverent. The guide doesn't rush you through; they pause at the details that matter, the inscriptions, the family plots that span centuries.

The walk covers ground — you're moving between cemeteries near City Park, so wear shoes that grip uneven terrain. The paths aren't smooth, and New Orleans' humidity will catch up with you, but that's part of why the guide's pacing and knowledge matter. You can bring your own beverages, which most people do. Service animals are welcome. The tour doesn't require a car; public transportation stops are nearby, so you can get yourself to the start and back to wherever you're staying without arranging extra transport.

What’s included

Your tour includes a guided walking experience led by a master storyteller through St.
Patrick Cemetery #1, St.
Patrick Cemetery #2, and the Katrina Memorial at Charity Hospital Cemetery.
The guide covers burial customs, Masonic and Catholic history in New Orleans, and the stories of those buried in each location.
Entry to the cemeteries is included.
You're welcome to bring your own beverages.
The walk takes 1.5 to 2 hours and covers uneven terrain near City Park.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Witches Brew Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to understand New Orleans' history through its cemeteries and burial traditions without arranging separate transportation or paying additional entry fees — the guide's knowledge and the fixed route mean you get the full story in one afternoon.