Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Lafayette Cemeteries No 1 and No 2

The Lafayette Cemetery No 1, founded in 1833, is the most popular cemetery to visit in New Orleans, located on the 1400 block of Washington Avenue in the Garden District. It is the most popular I think because it is the most beautiful, and has also been used in a few movies like Double Jeopardy and Interview with a Vampire. Many of these cemeteries have been used in movie productions, it is legal to shoot movies and photography here. It was named after General Lafayette, and New Orleans first planned cemetery. Unlike the Saint Louis Cemetery, the Lafayette has retained its original size since it was built. It has many different kinda of tombs and vaults with their own uniqueness. My favorite parts of this cemetery are the magnolia trees. They bring a lot of life to the cemetery visually. I also really enjoyed photographing the beautiful sculptures and destruction of the tombs.  I also recommend taking a tour of the cemetery with Save Our Cemeteries Inc. They have a lot of good information to learn about. My tour guide was the very friendly Gayl Pearson.

Lafayette No 1...






Below is a tomb that has be restored. Because of technology, we can laser the paint and see previous colors. The owners of this tomb decided to paint it an older color.

This tomb was used in the movie Interview with a Vampire. The empty lot below that was where the tomb in Double Jeopardy once was. It was torn down because it was a prop.


















Lafayette No 2...






 A lot of tomb get looted like the one below, it is very unfortunate. However, for a student like me, it is interesting to see the inside to learn how they are kept.
Most cemeteries are lined with tomb walls. They not only provide a place for the deceased, but also act as a protective wall. The Lafayette No 1 is not. Which may be the reason the above tomb got broken into.

4 comments:

  1. I think this is Lafayette #2...the one we went to before the second line....it's on Washington near LaSalle?

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  2. Ah yes, you are correct, but if you scroll to the top I did name the first grouping Lafayette No 1 then as you scroll down I have the second group titled Lafayette No 2, I shall make it bold to avoid future confusion :)

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  4. Is the Hall Stevedores And Longshoremen's Benevolent Society tomb there in Lafayette no. 2?
    If not, do you know where it maybe located in the city?

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