St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 at 425 Basin Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, is the oldest surviving cemetery in the city, in continuous use since 1789, and a defining example of the distinctive above-ground burial tradition that characterizes New Orleans' funerary culture. The practice of above-ground interment in New Orleans developed in response to the city's high water table and the risk of flooding, which historically made traditional below-ground burial impractical. The cemetery's whitewashed brick and plaster oven vaults — stacked two and three high along the perimeter walls — and the free-standing family tomb structures arranged along narrow interior paths create a labyrinthine landscape unlike any other in the United States. The site covers less than one city block but contains more than 700 tombs representing the city's Creole and immigrant Catholic communities. Notable burials include Homer Plessy, the plaintiff in the landmark 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court case that established the "separate but equal" doctrine; and a disputed tomb long believed by many visitors to mark the grave of Voodoo queen Marie Laveau, at which offerings of Mardi Gras beads, coins, and marked X symbols are traditionally left, though the archdiocese has worked to discourage this practice. Since 2015, entry to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 has been restricted to those on an official guided tour, managed by the Archdiocese of New Orleans through Save Our Cemeteries and licensed operators. Independent entry is not permitted. Tours last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours and depart at regular intervals. Photography within the cemetery is permitted as part of the guided tour. The cemetery is located at the edge of the French Quarter, one block from Canal Street, and is a short walk from most downtown hotels.