It would seem odd that cemeteries are a tourist attraction, but not for the city of New Orleans. The above ground resting places represent an important part of their history and display beautiful Spanish and French design. Two of the most famous cemeteries are Saint Louis Cemetery #1 and #2.

Saint Louis Cemetery #1 was established in 1789. It replaced the Saint Petersburg Cemetery. It is located eight blocks away from the Mississippi River on Basin Street. Many impressive people are entombed in the many crypts and tombs. Some notable residents include the Civil Rights activist Homer Plessy, Voodoo Queen Marie Laveu, and sugar industry pioneer Etienne de Boré.

Saint Louis Cemetery #2 was established in 1823. It is located three blocks away from Saint Louis Cemetery #1 on Claiborne Avenue and has over 100,000 burials. A protestant section is also located on the grounds.

Many notable people are entombed in Saint Louis Cemetery #2, including Civil War hero Andre Cailloux, Jazz musician Danny Barker, rhythm and blues singer Ernie K. Doe, and sainthood candidate Blessed Mother Henriette DeLille. In addition, the graveyard is the final resting place of several politicians.

Tours of are available from the Save Our Cemeteries organization and begin at 10 am on Sundays. Both cemeteries are open from 9 am to 3 pm on Sunday and from 9 am to 12 pm. They are part of the African American Heritage Trail.

Visitors to New Orleans can experience a bit of African Culture when they visit Congo Square. Located in the Tremé neighborhood in Louis Armstrong Park, the square was the gathering place for African slaves on their free day. Once slavery ended, free people of color began to meet there to perform music. Congo Square is the birthplace of Jazz.

The open area was designated by the mayor as a meeting place for slaves in 1817. Originally named the Place de Negres, the Place Publique, and then Circus Square, the plaza allowed slaves to honor their culture through song and dance on their free day, Sunday. In addition, they could sell their wares at the local market. The colonial French slavery style allowed slaves much more freedom than the rest of the United States. Slaves could move freely while at the square.

As the United States slavery style became more prevalent, the gatherings occurred less and less and finally ceased about 10 years before the end of slavery. In the late 19th century, Congo Square once again came to life when Creoles of Color began to perform concerts there. It was during that time that Jazz was born.

The best time to visit is the second weekend of November when the three-day long celebration, Congo Square New World Rhythm Festival occurs. The fiesta starts at 11 am and features African dance and music.

Located in the Tremé community in Tremé Villa, the New Orleans African American Museum presents the life, culture, music, and history of the New Orleans African American community. Tremé is one of the oldest surviving black communities in the United States and it is only fitting that the exhibition hall be located there. The building design reflects West Indies and French-colonial architecture. The museum was built between 1828 and 1829 by Simon Meilleur and is located on the site of a former plantation. The artwork of established and up-and-coming artists is beautifully displayed throughout the building. The site features three courtyards and a gazebo in the center of the yard that everyone will enjoy when they visit. Variety is the theme at the museum with the exhibits changing frequently. One of the best exhibits is the Louisiana-Congo: The Betrand Collection that displays an assortment of jewelry, clothing, masks, artifacts, and musical instruments from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The exhibit allows visitors to see some of the parallels between African and African American culture. They are open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm and by special appointment on days they are closed. It is strongly recommended to take the bus tour offered by the museum.

St. Augustine Catholic Church is the oldest African-American Catholic parish in the nation. It is located on Saint Claude Avenue near the French Quarter on the site of the old Claude Tremé plantation. The church is the location of the annual Jazz Mass that is held in conjunction with the Satchmo Festival, which pays homage to Louis Armstrong. The place of worship was founded in 1841 and dedicated in 1842. Architect J.N.B. de Pauilly designed the church. The property was donated by Ursuline Sisters on the condition that the church be named after Saint Augustine of Hippo. What makes the church special is that it was built by Free Persons of Color. Famous parishioners include Homer Plessy, Sidney Bechet, A.P. Tureaud, and Allison ‘Tootie’ Montana. One interesting note is that a war of the pews began when white people heard about the free people of color buying pews for slaves. The free people of color eventually won by buying three pews to every one pew a white person bought. St. Augustine’s almost faced closure after Hurricane Katrina due to extensive property losses in the city. This was a shock to the parishioners since the church escaped major damage. In addition, the parish was also providing support to those affected by the hurricane. The locals rallied and barricaded themselves in the building. This response caused the archdiocese to reverse its decision. In 2008, the church received a $75,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express to do much needed renovations. Mass is at 10 am on Sunday.

The Old French Market was a major food market for 180 years in New Orleans. People came from far and wide to enjoy the delicious and fresh foods, aroma, and atmosphere. It is one of the oldest public market buildings in America. The original market was located at the Café du Monde site near Jackson Square and was constructed by the Spanish during colonial times to provide a safe and clean place to purchase food. In 1811, a new building was constructed only to be destroyed by a hurricane the next year. The current building was rebuilt in 1813 and survives to this day, albeit several modifications. Often called Halle des Boucheries, or the Meat Market, by the locals, the shopping center was the only place where meat could be legally be purchased. The French Market became so popular that it eventually contained a vegetable market, fruit market, a dry goods emporium, and a coffee stand. The market almost came to an end in the 1970s when the City removed most of the produce from the site. The French Market Corporation rebounded by illustrating its glorious past while opening clothing stores, gift shops, and restaurants. One of the best features of the market is the flea market that is open daily from 7 am to 7 pm where clothing, jewelry, arts, crafts, and other items are sold.

Located in the French Quarter on Royal Street, the Historic New Orleans Collection focuses on the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South region. The collection was established in 1966 by General and Mrs. L. Kemper Williams. The museum includes the Merieult House, William Gallery, the Louisiana History Galleries, a museum shop, and the Williams Residence. Other buildings on the site include the Counting House, Maisonette, Townhouse, Louis Adams House, and Creole Cottage. In addition, the Williams Research Center on Charles Street allows researchers to view the documents, library items, manuscripts, photographs, prints, drawings, paintings, and other artifacts. The museum shop sells books, prints, jewelry, stationery, gift cards, and other items. Displayed collections include the William Russell Jazz Collection, the William C. Cook War of 1812 in the South Collection, the Tennessee Williams Collection, and the Clarence John Laughlin Collection. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm and on Sunday from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm. Tours of the galleries and the Williams Residence are at 10 am, 11 am, 2 pm, and 3 pm. Groups of eight or more people must make a reservation in order to receive a tour.