We went to the Catholic burying ground. The tombs here are peculiar to the place.

John H.B. Latrobe, ca. 1834

Tombs & Markers

In 1834, John H.B. Latrobe, the youngest son of Benjamin Latrabe, wrote:

No grave could be dug of the usual depth without coming to water, ... the coffin is laid upon the surface of the ground, and a strong structure of brick built around it. This is then plastered and whitewashed.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 contains approximately 700 tombs, tomb ruins and markers in small urban-like precincts. The tombs are owned by individuals, families and societies and most are aboveground and designed for multiple and repeated burials. Although there are a variety of tomb types and styles, most of these small 'buildings' are of soft, handmade, local "river" or "lake" brick and high lime content mortar, covered with high lime, hydraulic lime or natural cement content stucco.

John H. B. Latrobe painted a colorful view of the early cemetery that gives us the first clear image of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in 1834. The pyramidal Varney tomb is prominent, and there are step and platform tombs illustrated in earth colored stuccos. Many of the site's characteristic features are documented: multiple burial tombs, wall vaults and shell paths are visible, as well as ships in Carondalet's canal beyond.