Oldest Cemetery, St. Louis No. 1, New Orleans, LA, circa 1938
- Subject
- Cemeteries
- Card type
- Linen
- Date
- c. 1938 (Linen)
About this postcard
A narrow alley runs between rows of above-ground tombs and wall vaults at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, their plastered fronts painted white, ochre and pale blue, with iron gates and a small domed monument at the far end. The printed caption calls it the oldest cemetery, and the claim holds: founded in 1789 under Spanish rule and named for King Louis IX of France, it is the oldest surviving burial ground in New Orleans. Burial above ground, dictated by a water table too high for ordinary graves, gives the cemetery its crowded city-of-the-dead look. Among the interments are the reputed tomb of voodoo priestess Marie Laveau and that of chess champion Paul Morphy, both long draws for visitors to the site.
Postcard Details
No address detected
Postcard record
| Publisher | CURTEICH; A. HIRSCHWITZ |
|---|---|
| Series | 8A-H827 |
| Condition | Very good |
| Place depicted | St. Louis Cemetery, New Orleans, LA, New Orleans, LA |
| Publisher | CURTEICH; A. HIRSCHWITZ, New Orleans, LA |
| Notes | Linen-textured stock with visible crosshatch weave; thin border at edges; light wear at corners. No postmark — unused card. Divided back with linen-textured stock; Curteich "C.T. Art-Colortone" imprint (8A-H827) and A. Hirschwitz, New Orleans credit, circa late 1930s–1940s. Clean, no damage. |
Cite this card
Oldest Cemetery, St. Louis No. 1, New Orleans, LA, circa 1938, postcard, c. 1938. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/oldest-cemetery-st-louis-no-1-new-orleans-la-circa-1938. Accessed November 2, 2026.