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GC015.JPG

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View From the Tomb St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 New Orleans, Louisiana The house tombs of St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 stand in silence as traffic on Interstate 10 whizzes past. St. Louis No. 2 was established in 1823, as a response to the overcrowding of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. City fathers, ever fearful of disease emanating from the noxious vapors of cemeteries were determined to place St. Louis No. 2 at least 2400 feet from the city limits; in actuality St. Louis No. 2 was only 1800 feet from the city limits. Today, the cemetery is completely surrounded by urban sprawl. Although many of the tombs appear to be quite similar, there are a number of society tombs and private tombs in St. Louis No. 2 that are architect designed. Architect J. N. B. DePouilly designed many of the tombs at St. Louis No. 2. He came to New Orleans from France in the 1830’s with a sketch book filled with scale drawings of some of the finest tombs at Pere Lachaise Cemetery in France. His designs may be seen throughout New Orleans’ many cemeteries.