Back Story
Christy, Jesse, and I took the Amtrak Crescent from the train depot in Anniston AL to New Orleans for a week of adventure and photography. This train station is a classical revival depot and is listed in the National Registry of Historical Places. Jesse loves to ride the train. Heck, we all love to ride the train. We left August 8, 2013 and returned August 14th. Unfortunately Jeremy couldn’t go this time. He had to work.
Christy’s father was kind enough to drive us to the train station and pick us up so we wouldn’t have to leave a vehicle parked there for a week.
We stayed at our usual place, the historic 905 Royal Hotel in the French Quarter. The 905 Royal was built in the late 1890’s.
ST. Louis Cemetery #2
Location: Claiborne Avenue between St. Louis and Iberville Streets
Entrance gates at Bienville and Conti Street
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sunday: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Holiday closings vary
The church consecrated St. Louis #2 for burials in August 1823.
Christy, Jesse, and I took one of the carriage cemetery tours. We visited two cemeteries as well as stopping at some of the other sites in the French Quarter.
“This is the largest early Creole cemetery in New Orleans. Above-ground tombs dot the urban setting following European Enlightenment ideals and architecture prominent in both France and Spain. St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 is one of the finest collections of antebellum mortuary art arranged in an orthogonal grid. Tomb design, carved sculpture, and the ironwork surrounding the tombs and cemetery offer a glimpse into the artistic and cultural hybrids of the Creole community. Notable architects such as James Gallier and J. N. B. de Pouilly designed some of the grave sites, and those interred include significant jazz musicians and local war heroes.” (source – http://www.wmf.org/project/st-louis-cemetery-no-2)
Vandalism, natural elements, and two hurricanes have critically damaged many of the tombs.
The last two pictures are of one possible burial site for Marie Laveau a renowned Voodoo practitioner. People still leave offerings to gain her blessing.
Even though toys had been left as offerings Jesse didn’t touch anything. He was very respectful of the shrine.
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My Eclectic Life 
Aug 20, 2013 @ 16:01:54
OMG that looks a lot like our own General Cementery :O
here some pics from ours http://www.flickr.com/photos/robertourrea7/sets/72157600339460785/with/540677626/
Aug 20, 2013 @ 16:21:30
You’re right. They are similar. Cool pictures.
Aug 20, 2013 @ 16:03:16
I have gone in Amtrak trains when we visited California. The photos are lovely.
Aug 20, 2013 @ 16:22:37
I’m glad you liked the photos.
I’d like to ride the Amtrak train across the county and back. I think that would be interesting.
Aug 20, 2013 @ 16:59:03
🙂 Aw…in that last pic…That’s so cool about Jesse. He’s a sweet little boy.
Your photos here are great! I enjoyed reading of your experience, too.
When I visited a cemetery in NO, I was so intrigued…of course the above-ground tombs and the elaborate ornate artwork.
This might sound weird…but I love visiting cemeteries…reading the tombstones…pausing to remember those people who lived…even tho’ I didn’t know them, I’d like them to know someone is noting their life and death. The oldest cemetery I’ve been to was in The Great Smokey Mountains…it had graves that were pre-Civil War. It was very interesting. There were many graves of children. Which was understandable, but very sad.
HUGS!!! 🙂
Aug 20, 2013 @ 17:40:32
Your cemetery feelings don’t sound odd to me at all. My father was a rural minister. We lived in the pastorium next to the church. There was always a cemetery too. They were part of my play space so I have a natural love for them.
Pre-civil was cemetery. That is cool. I’ve visited some old cemeteries in the Coosa Management Area. There are a lot of plain stone headstones And like you said, many, many child and baby graves.
I’m glad you enjoy the pictures and stories about the adventures.
I think Jesse is a good kid too but I’m partial. lol
Have a great day!
Aug 20, 2013 @ 19:19:53
Amazing photos and sad about the vandalism. Are there more than one person buried in each plot?
I love the history found in cemetaries.
Aug 21, 2013 @ 02:20:11
Yes, there are a lot of people buried in most of the tombs. Each structure is a family burial spot.
There is a lot of history there. The tour guide knew a lot of details which I should have written down.
Aug 21, 2013 @ 13:07:27
Cemeteries are my absolute favorite. I’ll hopefully make it to this one at some point. 🙂
Aug 21, 2013 @ 14:53:05
It’s a really awesome place. If it had been cooler (heat index 105) I would have arranged to stay longer. I hope you get to go.
Aug 22, 2013 @ 06:10:38
I’ll plan for it at some point. There are so many places that I want to go that I sort of just go when the opportunity arises.
Aug 22, 2013 @ 15:43:16
I understand. That is how I’ve been in the past. Shortly, I’ll being going to places on my list as a way of life. I’m excited by that.