Strolling through a cemetery might not be the first thing you think about doing when you’re visiting another city, but when Lauren mentioned that when her friends come to town, one of the stops she makes with them is to one of the local cemeteries, I thought that would be a brilliant thing to photograph.
A bit morbid perhaps, but a New Orleans cemetary is like none that I’ve ever seen in the South, at least in my part of the South.
Stately and majestic tombs are lined up one after the other. No simple headstones in these cemeteries, they are something to behold. Take a look and you’ll see what I mean.
Beautiful structures with obelisk type steeples, they are amazing to look at.
Like tiny granite and marble houses. 
All different colors, shapes and sizes.
And inspired by many parts of the world, from looking at them.
Egyptian pyramids, yes? 
Aren’t they beautiful? It was awe-inspiring to walk around and photograph them.
With their aged statues adorning many of them, these angels were standing guard. 
Crosses on top of many.
These angels were my favorite, blue skies above their wings.
Even with the age showing on many of them, they are still beautiful.
I’ve never seen the likes of these in Georgia. 
These urns, I loved. Urns are some of my favorite shapes.
Another angel gracing the top.
Who could imagine that touring a cemetery could be so awe-inspiring? Now, I’m convinced.
Here’s a funny cemetery story that I can share with you from my childhood. You usually don’t think of cemeteries as being funny, but this one is.
When me and my sister were little, I was about 4, she would have been 6, my dad pastored a small church in the panhandle of Florida. Next door to our little parsonage was the church with adjoining cemetery. Naturally, my sister and I played in the cemetery with our dolls and stuff, placing them on the graves as our doll beds.
What? You never did that? OK, so we are weird, we definitely did that.
One day, and I don’t remember why we had this, but we had some of those to-go packages of ketchup with us out there playing. Somehow my sister stepped on one of them and ketchup went flying all over me from head to toe.
I ran home screaming and crying to my mom, who of course, immediately thought that I was bleeding profusely and was about to have a heart attack until it was actually determined to be ketchup all over her baby. I think she got a few gray hairs over that one, but it’s a true story. 🙂
So, you just never know when you might be hanging out in a cemetery, do you?
Rhoda, I loved your cemetary tour. We used to have picnics near the gravesites and say we were ‘visiting old relatives’ even though we didn’t know anyone buried there. I think cemetaries are both incredibly beautiful and haunting, and I loved how you captured it.
Loved the ketchup story by the way.
oxox
Jennifer
It can be morbid, but some older cemetaries — like the ones in New Orleans — are fascinating. Have you visitied Oakland in Atlanta? You learn so much about Atlanta history just by visiting there.
I love these pictures. We have a cemetary around our house that I frequent quite often. It’s on Lake Erie and it’s beautiful. I walk my little Mindy through all the time. I find it quite peaceful. Not a strange place at all.
Love them! I grew up on the North shore of NOLA and been through tons of cemetaries in south Louisiana. Never truly appreciated how unique they were until we moved away. I also found it strange that other cities actually buried their people below the ground! Having grown up with this style of burial…well, the below ground seemed so, umm……final. Above ground seems like they are just resting. Weird, isn’t it?
Cemeteries can be lovely and peaceful. I’m sure Kellie feels mixed about that place right now.
A woman named Kellie follows your blog. I am guessing you don’t know her story. On Feb. 17th she was teaching kindergarten when she got the worst call of her life. Her 4 month old baby died in the care of the babysitter. Kellie is a wonderful woman who needs our help! If you could see her blog and feel inspired, it would be amazing if you could do a post about the auction they are doing on this coming Monday, the 28th. They are trying to raise enough money to (in the future) have another child and be able to stay at home with them full-time. Kellie and James didn’t deserve what happened to them. Could you please help out a wonderful family in need by posting the link to the auction on your site? Thank you.
http://kandjstaats.blogspot.com/
The auction site:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44960&id=186874161353204
Rhoda,
Thanks for posting…do you know the name of the cemetary? It looks like the one that my father-in-law and mother-in-law are in…they are in one that’s located in Metairie…it’s a beautiful place.
Blessings,
Linda
Rhoda, I enjoy touring old cemetaries too.
Great photos and funny story! Mary
My mother’s home town is Speyer,Germany. The cemetary was always where we went on Sunday when we visited her home town. When I married, my husband and I went there and I said we are going to the cemetary on Sunday. He looked at me like that the was the last thing he wanted to do! After going, he understood. They are magnificant in Europe as well. You captured this beautifully!
Hi Rhoda
I love your site – its the first thing I check every morning 🙂
Im going to be in New Orleans (from Australia) in a couple of weeks, Ive never been and I am so excited about visiting! Anyway, I was think I would love to go and look around one of the old cemetries and was wondering which cemetry you went to and took these beautiful photos? Also, and this may be a weird question, is it safe to walk around one of the cemeteries by myself during the day??? Maybe one of your other followers might be able to help me out with this too, since everyone on here seems so friendly?
Leisa
Funny story! I too love visiting cemeteries. Your photos are great!
Love this, Rhoda! Love when you take us on your travels.
xo
shaunna 🙂
okay Rhonda, the cemetery thought is a bit creepy
BUT
I have to agree it is so full of awe dropping images. Seriously, those monuments are [to die] for (no pun intended).
OKAY
I think I may need to go and view cemeteries now. Well not now…but soon.
Mr. Goodwill Hunting
I love wandering through old cemeteries…I imagine the lives and families of the ones represented by the markers…what their way of life was, how times have changed since they were alive. We have a cemetery in Memphis that was founded in 1852 called Elmwood Cemetery. They even have guided tours. I’ve never been, but have always wanted to go. I’ll just make sure I don’t have any ketchup packets with me! =)
Hi, all! So glad ya’ll enjoyed this cemetery tour. I was happily surprised at how great the pics came out. Hauntingly beautiful place. For those asking what the name of the cemetery is, Lauren said it’s Old Metairie Cemetery or Oak Lawn Cemetery, there are signs for both these names there.
I’m so behind in blog reading and visiting right now, just trying to stay afloat with real life stuff going on.
Great pictures! I am glad that I am not the only one to visit cemetaries and take pictures when in an old area. We did this in both Charleston and Savannah but those did not even compare to yours. I have always heard the ones in New Orleans are very different from your pictures this is very true.
Gorgeous photos Rhoda! I love the angels with their patina….so gorgeous! I have always loved to walk through cemeteries too, the history, the names….
My mother actuallly found my name on a tombstone when she was a little girl. All her life she named her dolls Lou Cinda until she had a daughter and I got it then….true story…
Have a great day!
Lou Cinda
I live in North Louisiana and have been to New Orleans countless times…but would you believe I’ve never toured the cemetery??? I am going again in August and it is now on my to-do list. I was wondering…can anyone go tour it on their own or do you have to pay for a guided tour?