Time and Money: Tombs and Mansions of the Rich and Famous

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

Did you know the Garden District of New Orleans was created to separate wealthy American Protestants from their Creole and Catholic neighbors?

Home to one of the largest collections of stunning Antebellum homes in the country, the Garden District is the architectural delight of New Orleans. A visual buffet of building styles from all over the globe, including Gothic, Greek Revival, Italianate and more, this uptown neighborhood represents the sumptuous style of wealthy American society before the Civil War ended this historical era. Elaborate family crypts pay homage to the former residents of this illustrious district in opulent, above-ground cemeteries known as “cities of the dead”. Experience the grandeur, opulence, and intrigues of elite New Orleans residents in the 1800s, both during and after their lives, on this signature downtown walking tour.

“This tour is completely different from any we have been on before. We learned so much about the city that no one ever hears about!”

What is the Garden District Celebrities and Cemeteries, Mansions and Mysteries Tour About?

The Garden District Celebrities and Cemeteries, Mansion and Mysteries Tour is designed to introduce you to the historic residences and elegant cemeteries that make up New Orleans’ iconic Garden District, as well as some of the famous faces who have called this neighborhood home. Backed by meticulous historical research and anecdotal references, this entertaining tour provides unique insight into the stunning architecture and structured class system of days gone by.

What You Will See on This Tour:

Stroll through one of New Orleans’ most lavish and exclusive neighborhoods, where you will view:

• The Italianate opulence of Colonel Short’s Villa
• The elaborate resting places in Lafayette Cemetery No.1
• The scandalous Morris-Isreal House
• The upscale Creole dining of the Commander’s Palace
• And so much more…

Admire the luxury of the past, hear scandalous tales of corruption and crime, and perhaps catch a glimpse of a familiar face as you stroll through the picturesque streets of the iconic Garden District.

Join us in a trip back through time when the New Orleans elite created an exclusive enclave of architectural delights and decadent lifestyles most of us can only dream of- and picture yourself behind the elaborate wrought-iron gates of these elegant mansions.

“The first thing you notice about New Orleans are the burying grounds- the cemeteries- and they’re a cold proposition, one of the best things there are here. Going by, you try to be as quiet as possible, better to let them sleep.”

Bob Dylan