Abandoned Tomb Initiative

Restoration of “Abandoned and Forgotten” tombs – We are currently working to restore abandoned tombs in our historic cemeteries. By abandoned, we are referring to burials being at least 40 to 50 years ago, no family contact on file, and the tomb being in poor condition. Our intent is to restore these historic tombs to preserve our culture and secure the future of our cemeteries for generations to come. 

All tombs within the program are restored according to standards published by the National Park Service. We use natural lime-based mortar and plaster that is not only historically accurate but also compatible with the historic materials used to initially construct the tombs. Donations go towards securing the structural stability of the tombs and to restoring the lime-based plaster and limewash.

Learn more about donating and how to become a “Friend of New Orleans Catholic Cemeteries” – Call 504-596-3050, or donate online:  http://nolacatholiccemeteries.org/donate/

For corporate sponsorship of a abandoned tomb restoration, please call 504-596-3050 or email [email protected]

The exterior brick walls of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 were restored in 2015 for $500,000; this project stabilized the historic walls by placing new mortar into the brick joints while maintaining their original appearance.