Historic New Orleans Cemetery
Marie Laveau's Tomb: The Voodoo Queen’s Resting Place
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
This legendary site honors the most famous Voodoo priestess in American history. Located in New Orleans' oldest cemetery, the tomb serves as a powerful symbol of the city's unique spiritual heritage and 19th-century Creole culture.
Deep within the labyrinthine rows of St. Louis Cemetery No.
1 lies the whitewashed vault of a woman whose influence once reached every corner of New Orleans society. Marie Laveau, the city's most iconic Voodoo priestess, was a 19th-century figure of immense power, blending African, Catholic, and Native American traditions into a unique spiritual practice.
While her life story is often blurred by the exploits of her daughter—who shared her name and vocation—the original Laveau remains the primary focus of local lore and international fascination.
Why It Stands Out
Laveau was far more than a mystic; she was a central figure in the social fabric of Old New Orleans. Working as a hairdresser, she gained intimate access to the secrets of the wealthy while simultaneously providing spiritual counsel and "gris-gris" charms—sachets filled with herbs, stones, and other artifacts—to the marginalized.
Her reputation for granting wishes and even intervening in the fates of condemned prisoners made her a living legend. Today, her purported final resting place in the Glapion family tomb attracts a steady stream of visitors.
Though some historians debate whether she truly rests here, her presence is felt in the layers of tradition surrounding the site. For decades, visitors scribbled marks on the tomb to petition for favors, a practice that has since been strictly banned to protect the fragile masonry of the 1789 cemetery.
Before You Go
Accessing the tomb requires a bit of planning, as St. Louis Cemetery No.
1 is no longer open for casual wandering. Since 2015, visitors are only permitted entry if accompanied by a licensed tour guide or if they have family members interred within the gates.
While exploring, keep an eye out for other notable figures, such as civil rights pioneer Homer Plessy. Be aware that the tomb was restored in 2014, and strict rules are now in place to prevent vandalism; those caught marking the grave face significant fines.
The cemetery itself is a masterpiece of above-ground architecture, featuring monuments that have stood since the late 18th century.
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