St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

The oldest cemetery in New Orleans, established by Spanish royal decree in 1789. Within just one city block, this "City of the Dead" contains over 700 above-ground tombs holding more than 100,000 burials. The distinctive above-ground vaults emerged due to the high water table and devastating epidemics.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 rises from a single city block in New Orleans, a labyrinth of above-ground tombs that holds over 100,000 souls within its weathered walls. Established by Spanish royal decree on August 14, 1789, it is the oldest extant cemetery in New Orleans—and widely considered one of the most haunted burial grounds in America. Among its residents is the most powerful spiritual figure the city has ever known: Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen.

Born in 1801, Marie Laveau was a free woman of color who would become the most revered and feared Voodoo practitioner in New Orleans history. Her ceremonies at Congo Square drew hundreds of participants, both enslaved and free, curious and devoted. She offered services that ranged from fortune-telling to the creation of gris-gris—charm pouches made of herbs, bones, hair, nails, stones, and grave dirt. Her influence extended into the highest levels of New Orleans society, where the wealthy sought her counsel and her magic.

When Marie Laveau died in 1881, she was interred in the Glapion family tomb within St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. But death has not diminished her presence. Her ghost has been spotted throughout the French Quarter, walking past her former home at 1022 St. Ann Street, always recognizable by the red and white turban wrapped around her hair and the brilliantly colored clothes she wears. Those who follow her watch as she simply vanishes from sight.

Within the cemetery itself, Marie Laveau's spirit takes on a different character. Visitors have encountered her walking among the tombs—but unlike her peaceful wanderings through the Quarter, here she can be aggressive. Reports describe being pinched, scratched, or even knocked down by an unseen force near her tomb. Others have experienced sudden illness, heard voices emanating from inside the burial vault, or felt invisible hands touching them.

One infamous encounter occurred during the Great Depression. A homeless man fell asleep atop a tomb in the cemetery, only to wake to the pounding of drums and eerie chanting. Following the sounds, he came upon Marie Laveau's tomb, where he witnessed the ghosts of nude men and women dancing in a circle. At the center stood Marie herself, accompanied by her legendary boa constrictor, Zombi.

For decades, visitors marked Marie Laveau's tomb with three X's while making a wish, believing that if the wish was granted, they must return with a gift. This practice led to extensive vandalism—the tomb was twice painted Pepto-Bismol pink—and in March 2015, the Archdiocese of New Orleans closed the cemetery to unaccompanied visitors. Today, only licensed tours may enter, and marking the tomb is illegal, punishable by fines and jail time.

Marie Laveau is not the only spirit in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. The ghost of Henry Vignes, a 19th-century sailor, haunts his family's tomb. According to legend, he lost important papers after a voyage and returned to find them missing, then fell ill and died before recovering them. Visitors have reported encounters with a tall, pale man with intense eyes who appears suddenly, asks if anyone has seen his papers, then vanishes behind a headstone.

A crow is said to watch over Marie Laveau's grave, and many believe her spirit has inhabited the bird, maintaining eternal vigilance over her final resting place. The cemetery became a National Historic Landmark in 1974, but its true significance transcends any official designation. Here, in this city of the dead, the Voodoo Queen still reigns.