The story
Welcome to the most storied square block in New Orleans. As you step through these gates, you are not just entering a graveyard; you are entering a literal City of the Dead. Look around you.
There are no grassy mounds or simple headstones here. Instead, you are surrounded by a labyrinth of crumbling brick, weathered marble, and ornate iron lace. This is the oldest active cemetery in the city, established by Spanish royal decree in 1789, and it holds the echoes of three centuries of New Orleans history.
You might wonder why the people here built up rather than down. The answer lies beneath your feet. In the 18th century, the settlers realized that digging a grave in this swampy, below-sea-level soil often meant the casket would literally float back to the surface during a heavy rain.
To keep their loved ones at rest, they turned to the European tradition of above-ground entombment. These tombs act like natural crematoriums. In the sweltering Louisiana heat, the stone structures become as hot as ovens, accelerating the process of decomposition until only ashes and bone fragments remain, which are then moved to a lower compartment to make room for the next family member.
Follow the narrow, uneven path toward the center of the square until you find the Glapion family tomb. This is the final resting place of Marie Laveau, the legendary Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. Even in death, Marie remains one of the city's most influential figures.
You may notice faint marks on the stone or small offerings left nearby—coins, hair ribbons, or flowers. For generations, locals and visitors alike have come here to whisper their secrets and ask for her intervention from the beyond. Now, turn your gaze toward that stark, nine-foot-tall white pyramid.
It looks strikingly modern compared to the 18th-century masonry surrounding it. That is the future tomb of actor Nicolas Cage. It is a polarizing addition to this historic site, inscribed with the Latin phrase "Omnia Ab Uno," meaning "Everything from One."
Nearby, you will find the tomb of Homer Plessy. His resting place is a quiet, dignified reminder of the struggle for justice. Plessy was the man who challenged segregation in the landmark Supreme Court case Plessy v.
Ferguson, a fight for civil rights that echoes through American history. As you walk these narrow alleys, listen to the way the city’s jazz and traffic fade into a heavy, respectful silence. These tombs are more than just monuments; they are family homes.
In New Orleans, we don’t leave our ancestors behind; we keep them right here in the heart of the neighborhood. This place is a testament to a city that lives vibrantly and remembers deeply, honoring those who built the Crescent City, one brick at a time.