St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 was opened in the New Orleans French Quarter in 1789. It is the oldest Cemetery in the city. There are 700 souls buried in St. Louis. Lots cost $40,000 each. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is considered the spookiest cemetery in the south.
Upon entering this Cemetery you will notice the graves and rows look more like houses and streets. So much so that it is called “The City of the Dead”. The Graveyard is located below sea level. The cemetery must keep the corpses above ground due to a high water table. When buried underground, the caskets would float back up. Vaults began being used. Each Vault holds up to 100 bodies. You must wait 1 year and 1 day after the last burial before putting a new body to rest in a vault.
St. Louis No. 1 has become a very popular tourist attraction. Films such as Easy Rider and Interview with a Vampire filmed scenes here. However, the main reason so many come to visit is the residents that are hanging around in the afterlife.
Marie Laveau
The spookiest cemetery in the south is ruled by the spirit of a voodoo queen. Marie Laveau that is. The Voodoo Queen was buried in St. Louis in 1881. Legend says that if you put 3 X’s on her grave, she will grant you a wish. Marie is said to walk the rows of the cemetery, wearing brightly colored clothing with a red and white turban on her head. She is known to poke, scratch, and push those who don’t believe in Voodoo. There have even been reports of people becoming ill suddenly. It is also rumored that she haunts her home. Marie is staying busy in the afterlife.
Henry Vignes
Another soul wandering around St. Louis is the spirit of Henry Vignes. Henry was a sailor. He was worried about his important paperwork while out at sea. He asked the proprietor of the boarding house he was staying in to keep the documents safe for him. Instead, they sold his plot at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to the highest bidder. He was never able to obtain his plot back or purchase a new plot. Henry is buried in a pauper's grave at St. Louis. A lost blue-eyed man is seen wandering the site, asking where the Vignes tomb is located. Henry has also been known to attend funerals and ask if there is any room in the tomb for him. He can be heard saying “I need rest”.
Alphonse
If you are walking through the cemetery and someone pulls your hand, asking you to bring him home. Don’t be alarmed, that is just Alphonse looking for his final resting place. Alphonse is thought to have been murdered by a member of the Pinead family. When people come near the Pinead family tomb, Alphonse will tell them to stay away. He is known to take flowers off of other graves and put them on his own. Can someone buy this man some flowers?
Paul Morphy
The Unofficial World Champion of Chess was also laid to rest in St. Louis. Paul Morphy beat an opponent with his back turned to the board, while telling someone else where to make each of his moves. He quit chess after that and became a lawyer. Sadly, Paul became very paranoid and began his descent into madness, believing he was being watched and would be poisoned. He only ate food prepared by his mother and sister. He began stalking different women. Paul ran through the French Quarter naked with an ax threatening to kill the first person to cross him. He died of a stroke while in the bathtub in 1884. He is said to haunt all of New Orleans, including his final resting place.
Madame LeLurie
In 1930 a copper plate was exposed in the cemetery that reads: “Madame LeLurie December 7, 1842. Died in Paris''. On April 10th, 1834, Delphine LeLurie’s house caught on fire. Upon entering the attic, the rescuers found slaves that had been beaten, starved, and chained up. The LeLurie family fled to France. According to records, Madame LeLurie died December 7th, 1849 which would mean the marker is incorrect. It is believed that she may have been brought back to the cemetery and buried.
Other people of notoriety buried in St. Louis No.1:
Holmer Aldolph Plessy. Plessy challenged Louisiana's segregation laws. Known for the Plessy Vs. Ferguson case.
William Claiborne, Louisiana’s first American Governor. A ladies' man, he was often seen walking down the street carrying a fancy cane, in a tall hat, devilish grin, and confident swagger. He was known for his hatred of the pirate, Jean Lafitte. Claiborne put out a $500 reward for the capture of Lafitte. In return, Lafitte put out a $5000 bounty on Claiborne.
Etienne de Bore, the sugar pioneer
Barthelemy Lafon, the pirate
Ernest N. “Dutch” Morial, the first black mayor of New Orleans
Last but not least, the most recent, famous, and active resident of St. Louis No. 1 is still roaming the earth and acting in movies: Nicholas Cage. Oh, wait, he’s not dead. In 2010 Cage bought the last two plots at the cemetery. He had a 9 ft. tall pyramid built to be buried in. It is inscribed with the words “OMNIA AB UNO” meaning “everything from one”.
The cemetery has been closed to the public because the public sucks and won't stop vandalizing the place. In 2013 someone painted Marie Laveau's grave pink. Along with other acts of vandalism, they were forced to shut the gates. If you want to visit St. Louis Cemetery No.1 you will have to buy a ticket for an organized tour.
Credits:
World Scariest Places. America’s Scariest Places. LIFE MAGAZINE: The World's Most Haunted Places. Ghostcitytours.com, thelineup.com, airworthytours' youtube channel, horror happenings with the dead girl's youtube channel.
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