One of the amazing places to visit in New Orleans are the cemeteries. The Metairie Cemetery was on our list.
( 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA)
the site of the cemetery was, back in 1838, a horse racing track.
then it became a Confederate Camp.
read on...here is some really eerie history on the cemetery
The race track, which was owned by the Metairie Jockey Club, refused membership to Charles T. Howard, a local resident who had gained his wealth by starting the first Louisiana State Lottery. After being refused membership, Howard vowed that the race course would become a cemetery. Sure enough, after the Civil War and Reconstruction, the track went bankrupt and Howard was able to see his curse come true. Today, Howard is buried in his tomb located on Central Avenue in the cemetery, which was built following the original oval layout of the track itself. Mr. Howard died in 1885 in Dobbs Ferry, New York when he fell from a newly purchased horse.
The crypts are works of art in themselves
this is the Chapman H. Hyams mausoleum on the SE corner of the cemetery. It is where you will find the "Weeping Angel" statue that you see so many photos of in art galleries.
she is breathtaking
most of the crypts have religious statuary either on top of them or around their perifery. Every one of them is a work of art.
there are numerous famous people buried in Metairie...just a very few of the names:
Louis Prima, bandleader, Stan Rice, poet, deLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison, Sr., Mayor of New Orleans, Samuel D. McEnery, Governor of Louisiana, Grace King, author, Al Hirt, jazz trumpeter, Dorothy Dix, advice columnist, Al Copeland, Founder of Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits and several other restaurants and Renato Cellini, operatic conductor.
Jewish folk are supposed to be buried IN the ground (not that we all do that...some do choose crypts ) and we found a section of the cemetery for them
if you stop back tomorrow you'll get to take a tour of the Sculpture Garden with me....
don't miss it !
There is something so peaceful about cemeteries...beautiful, breathtaking artwork!
Posted by: Martha Richardson | February 25, 2013 at 07:46 AM
What a beautiful, eerie place.
Posted by: Sue Roddis | February 25, 2013 at 03:26 AM
Beautiful stonework, and masonry. Thanks for sharing these.
Posted by: Helen | February 25, 2013 at 02:24 AM