Metairie Cemetery Tour: Explore Historic Tombs, Untold Stories
5.0
176 Ratings
New Orleans
Join the Metairie Cemetery tour and uncover the secrets of historic tombs, from Popeyes' founder to vampire novelist Anne Rice. Explore untold stories and scandalous narratives of New Orleans!
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Lake Lawn Metairie - Metairie Cemetery (actually located in New Orleans) is home to some of the most elaborate and artistic marble tombs and funerary art in the city. This former racetrack is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is frequently ranked as one of the top cemeteries in the world. Metairie Cemetery has everyone from politicians, to jazz musicians to Storyville madams to mob bosses, to fried-chicken tycoons, to vampire novelists, all nestled together in an 127-acre pastoral setting surrounded by shining pyramids, Greek Temples, Islamic pavilions, crying dogs, and mausoleums with weeping angels. Metairie Cemetery is not a burial place, but a burial destination.
What's Included
  • Admission to Metairie Cemetery
  • Guidance from an expert guide
  • Insider tips for local food, music, and culture
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Bottled water
Additional Information

The Metairie Cemetery holds a spot on the National Register of Historic Places and is frequently regarded as a must-visit cemetery globally. As you stroll under the protection of almost a thousand trees, you’ll witness the lavish burial chambers of Al Copeland, the founder of Popeyes, Ruth Fertel, the creator of Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and Anne Rice, a renowned vampire literature writer. You’ll encounter a pyramid protected by a sphinx, a tomb with Islamic elements built by a Confederate general for his daughter, the burial site of a solemn gambler shot dead, a notorious madam from Storyville who was forced to abandon her grave, and the well-known weeping angel drenched in blue. Your tour guide, Sally Asher, is fervent about uncovering the unusual, scandalous, and unspoken tales of New Orleans. An applauded author and professional photographer, Asher advocates for the importance of history not only in recording dates and facts but also in capturing the delicate convergence of truth and storytelling, including the untold and scandalous aspects. The tour covers about 2 miles and lasts approximately 2 hours.

Location
5100 Pontchartrain Blvd
Pontchartrain Boulevard
Please meet at least 10 minutes early from the start time at 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., at the Law Enforcement Memorial to the right of the funeral home. Any of the entry gates will lead to the memorial. You just need to make a right at the stop sign. If you drive, you can park in the lot.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(176 Ratings)
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Alexandra_d
Jun 18, 2024
Fantastic cemetery tour! - This tour was amazing! Our tour guide Sally Asher with Red Sash Tours was so well informed and knew the cemetery like the back of her hand. We had the best time and this was definitely one of the most memorable experiences from our trip!
Review provided by Viator
Teddy_l
Jun 11, 2024
Great experience! Rich in history! - Great tour! The cemetery is beautiful and the history is enlightening! Sally was an excellent guide and we learned so much! Great experience and well worth your time! Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
332mistyf
Jun 1, 2024
Wealthy Real estate of the deceased - Sally is fun and knowledgeable and handled the unannounced rain storm like a pro. Beautiful cemetery. The thought on the intricate details is amazing. Glad we went.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cindy_m
May 28, 2024
Sally was a great tour... - Sally was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend her for any tour. She knew a lot about New Orleans.
Review provided by Viator
Mparrish71
May 26, 2024
Wonderful experience - Very knowledgeable and entertaining guide with factual knowledge, great personality and stories. Highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
D4389oqallisons
May 25, 2024
Interesting and Fun! The cemetery and guide are both fantastic. - The cemetery tour with Sally was a highlight of our time in New Orleans. The cemetery itself is enormous and breathtakingly beautiful, and Sally is an incredible guide! Sally was clear in her communication in terms of where to meet and how best to get to the cemetery, and was thoughtful as a tour guide ensuring our comfort in the heat with umbrellas 👍 Sally is clearly passionate and knowledgeable regarding New Orleans history and cemeteries. It felt like a special treat to have her guide us around! We also agreed that not only was Sally insightful with her historical information, she made the tour really fun and interesting with the stories she shared. Both the cemetery itself AND Sally Asher as a guide are 10/10.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Woodshawatx
May 19, 2024
Fabulous Meterie Cemetery Tour - Sally was the best tour guide! We learned so much on this cemetery tour! From the symbol meanings to the very interesting stories! She was extremely knowledgeable and so fun. And the crows all know her! Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Flyer36858974212
May 19, 2024
Informative and fun - Sally was an amazing tour guide. She was lots of fun and full of informative information and relatable stories. We will definitely book her for tours on future visits.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lindacv630zo
Apr 29, 2024
Metairie Cemetery tour with Sally. - Thoroughly enjoyed Sally Asher’s extensive knowledge of the cemetery and people who were laid to rest there. Sally was a fantastic tour guide /researcher, friendly and passionate about sharing the accurate of and in preserving the future of the cemeteries. Highly recommend any tour that Sally is the guide. You will be grateful you did.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tina_b
Apr 29, 2024
Amazing Tour! - Sally, our tour guide made the 2 and a half hour tour feel like minutes because it was so much fun and insightful. I learned so much and appreciated all the background stories of certain tombs and mausoleums. I had an amazing time thanks to our tour guide and I would do it again.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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