Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 Will Reopen in October
New Orleans' historic landmark will resume public tours starting October 1, 2026, under new management.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in National Parks
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Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 will reopen to the public on October 1, 2026, following a seven-year closure. The historic site, which first opened in 1833, will now offer tours managed exclusively by the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans.
Why it matters
The site closed in 2019 to address long-standing issues with over-tourism, vandalism, and the harassment of families visiting gravesites. The extended closure allowed preservationists to complete necessary restoration work on aging mausoleums and tombs.
Public tours are limited to 16 people per group and will run daily from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Preservationists spent seven years restoring tombs and mausoleums dating back as far as 1833.
The players
Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans
This nonprofit organization is dedicated to protecting and restoring the historic architecture and culture of New Orleans.
The details
Tours will now be offered exclusively through the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans to ensure better oversight of the grounds. Efforts focused on repairing infrastructure that had degraded over the cemetery's 180-year history.
Timeline
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 first opened in 1833.
The cemetery closed to the public in 2019.
The cemetery reopens to the public on October 1, 2026.
Travel Outlook
The reopening follows a seven-year hiatus prompted by the 2019 closure of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. This shift reflects a broader trend in historic tourism, where popular destinations are implementing strictly controlled access to balance preservation with public interest.
Visitors must now book through the Preservation Resource Center to secure one of the limited spots on daily tours. Prospective guests should plan for the 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. window, as these time slots are the only opportunity for public access.
The takeaway
The return of public access requires advance planning to accommodate new group size restrictions. These changes are intended to preserve the site's structural integrity while ensuring a more respectful environment for families.
Further reading
Learn more about local preservation efforts in the National Parks section.
More information
For tour bookings and restoration updates, visit the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox8live.
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