Save Our Cemeteries

10/01/2026

For everyone who’s been waiting to go beyond these gates: guided tours are back!

Today, we welcomed the first tour group back into Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 since its closing on September 9, 2019.

Some visitors had been waiting years. Others had just learned they would be part of the first tour back. We captured the gates opening, our guides welcoming everyone in, and a few of those first reactions.

The return of guided tours is a partnership between PRC and the City of New Orleans. A portion of our tour proceeds supports restoration and preservation at City-owned cemeteries, including Lafayette No. 1.

Thank you to our guides, our City partners and everyone who joined us today!

Now it’s your turn. Book a guided tour:

https://prcno.org/cemetery-tour/lafayette-cemetery-no-1/

09/22/2026

09/21/2026

Guided public tours are returning to Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 this October!

Following a public bid process, the City of New Orleans has selected the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans (PRC) as the sole tour operator for the Garden District cemetery, which has been closed to public tours since 2019.

Through this partnership, PRC will offer 75- to 90-minute guided tours with no more than 16 guests per group. Tours will focus on the cemetery’s history, architecture, people and traditions, with family visits, funerals, maintenance and cemetery operations taking priority.

Most importantly, this program is designed with preservation at its center. Under the revenue-sharing agreement, the City will receive a share of tour revenue, while PRC will dedicate a portion of its proceeds exclusively to restoration and preservation at City-owned cemeteries, including Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.

Save Our Cemeteries, now a department of PRC, has more than 50 years of preservation experience and has restored more than 50 family and society tombs within Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.

🎟️ Tours can be booked now at https://prcno.org/new-orleans-cemetery-tours/

📰 You can also read the full press release at https://prcno.org/city-of-new-orleans-selects-preservation-resource-center-to-lead-guided-tours-at-lafayette-cemetery-no-1/

We’re excited to welcome visitors back to Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in a way that prioritizes preservation, respect and the families connected to this sacred place.

09/17/2026

Metairie Cemetery opened in 1872, but the Duverjé family tomb was built decades earlier in Algiers. In 1916, it crossed the river to its present home.

Hear Glenn tell the story, then join PRC New Orleans for a cemetery tour.

🔗 https://prcno.org/cemetery-tour/metairie-cemetery/

09/17/2026

Behind the modest bungalow at 2522 Chartres Street is the story of John August Abadie, a New Orleans teenager who enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and was killed at the Battle of Tarawa at just 19 years old.

John was the first of New Orleans’ World War II dead to return home from overseas. Nearly four years after his death, his flag-draped casket arrived at Union Station, where he was honored by members of the military before being taken to St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church for his funeral Mass. He was laid to rest in the tomb of his grandfather at St. Roch Cemetery.

From his childhood in the French Quarter to his service in the Pacific and his final journey home, John’s story offers a glimpse into the lives and sacrifices of the New Orleanians who served during World War II.

Read the full story by Katy Morlas Shannon in Preservation in Print on our website, or become a member to receive all 6 issues delivered directly to your mailbox while supporting preservation efforts across New Orleans.

📖 Read more, become a member and book your tour of St. Roch Cemetery at https://prcno.org/within-these-walls-john-august-abadie-of-2522-chartres-street/

09/17/2026

We’re hiring! 🏛️

Want to work in historic preservation and help connect people with New Orleans’ architecture, history, and culture? The Preservation Resource Center is currently accepting applications for three open positions:

🎟️ Tours Assistant
Help coordinate day-to-day tour operations, build schedules, support tour staff, and provide an exceptional experience for PRC guests.

🚪 Gate Attendant
Be a welcoming first point of contact for guests and visitors while assisting with tour check-in, bookings, and daily operations.

🏘️ Education & Community Engagement Coordinator
Help develop and coordinate educational programs and community engagement initiatives that connect people to the preservation of New Orleans’ historic architecture, cemeteries, neighborhoods, and cultural identity.

Interested in joining the PRC team? Find the full job descriptions and application information at https://prcno.org/preservation-resource-center-jobs/

09/17/2026

Join us for an evening celebrating the winners of the 2026 Stewardship Awards from the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation, Dennis Alonzo and Nathan Chapman for the restoration of the Jean Baptiste Gaudin Tomb, and learn more about the essential work of tomb restoration.

Michael Shoriak of Cypress Building Conservation will explore the history of the tomb in Donaldsonville, investigating the style and possible architectural influences, and share how his team analyzed materials and condition to restore this historic and important 15-vault tomb. He will also offer observations and advice that might help others concerned about the futures of their own family tombs.

An awards presentation will follow. Refreshments generously provided by Nathan Chapman and Dennis Alonzo.

This program is co-hosted by the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation, Louisiana Landmarks Society, and Vieux Carré Property Owners, Residents and Associates, Inc. (VCPORA).

🔗 Register for this FREE in-person event at https://prcno.org/event/restoring-rosebud-lessons-from-the-award-winning-jean-baptiste-gaudin-tomb-restoration/

Restoring Rosebud: Lessons from the Award-Winning Jean Baptiste Gaudin Tomb Restoration

09/14/2026

What should the future of Holt Cemetery look like?

We want to hear from the people who know and care about this important place.

Save Our Cemeteries, a department of the Preservation Resource Center, Wake Education, and Our Mammy’s History & Genealogy invite you to participate in a community engagement process to help inform the planning and care of Holt Cemetery.

Community input will help identify preservation priorities, maintenance concerns, and opportunities for improvement while respecting the cemetery’s historical, cultural, and community significance.

Whether you’re a descendant, family member, neighbor, preservation advocate, researcher, or simply someone with an interest in Holt Cemetery, your knowledge and perspective are valuable.

There are two opportunities to participate, and both meetings will cover the same information—attend whichever works best for you.

📅 Thursday, September 17 at 6 p.m.
📍 Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans

📅 Saturday, September 19 at 10 a.m.
📍 The REACH Center of the New Orleans Public Library

Come share what you know and help inform the future of Holt Cemetery. 🔗 Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSezrN3PyG3YfG9ZFzgwRlW4axP5_knUKl45wjZ11Xr8n4v6HQ/viewform

08/10/2026

We were so sorry to learn of the passing of author, historian, and community leader Frank Perez this past week. A former board member of Save Our Cemeteries, Frank leaves a lasting impact on New Orleans through his incredible work researching, documenting, and presenting LGBTQ+ history, training tour guides, and creating connections across the city. We are so grateful to have been in his orbit and are keeping his community in our thoughts.

08/06/2026

Explore two of New Orleans' most fascinating historic sites on our St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 & Pitot House Tour.

Begin with a guided walk through St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, where you'll discover New Orleans' unique burial traditions and hear the stories of legendary figures like architect James Gallier, Storyville photographer E.J. Bellocq, and chef and civil rights icon Leah Chase.

Then cross historic Esplanade Avenue to explore the Pitot House, one of the few remaining West Indies-style homes in Louisiana. Built in 1799, this remarkable house has stood witness to more than two centuries of New Orleans history.

It's the perfect tour for history lovers, architecture enthusiasts, and anyone looking to experience two iconic landmarks in one morning.

📅 Our next tour is Thursday, August 13 at 9 a.m.
🎟️ Reserve your spot today at https://prcno.org/cemetery-tour/combo-st-louis-no-3-pilot-house/