Metairie Cemetery can feel like a living museum. This 2-hour walking tour through Red Sash Tours brings the place to life with Millionaire’s Row tombs, dramatic symbols, and stories you will not get from a quick self-guided stroll. You also get the benefit of walking under shade, with nearly 1,000 trees cooling the route.

I love the way the tour turns stonework into readable meaning, from architectural details to the symbolism on monuments and statues. I also like the lineup of specific stops, including Popeyes founder Al Copeland’s tomb and Anne Rice’s resting place, which makes the history feel personal instead of abstract.

The main tradeoff is simple: plan on about 2 miles of walking, and the tour runs rain or shine. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water, because cemeteries are not known for gentle footing.

Key things you’ll notice on the Metairie Millionaire’s Tombs tour

• Millionaire’s Row at walking pace shows how wealth, art, and belief shaped tomb design in Metairie.
• Sally Asher’s storytelling connects architecture, symbolism, and the people buried there into one clear narrative.
• Anne Rice’s tomb and Al Copeland’s tomb give you famous-name context without skipping the craftsmanship.
• A sphinx-guarded pyramid adds a fascinating symbolism stop that most visitors miss.
• A “who’s who” mix of residents including mayors, governors, mob bosses, law enforcement, and city figures.
• Stops with stained glass and Islamic-inspired design expand what you think you know about cemetery art.

Walking into Metairie Cemetery, under almost 1,000 trees

This is a guided walking tour of Metairie Cemetery with a local author and historian, and it starts with the setting doing half the work. You walk beneath the shade of almost 1,000 trees, which matters in New Orleans. It takes the edge off the heat and helps you focus on the details, not just surviving the sun.

Metairie Cemetery was established in 1872, and it landed on the National Register of Historic Places. On this tour, you do not just hear that fact, you see what it looks like when a place is preserved as a cultural landmark, not treated like a random block of graves.

A practical note: the tour is about 2 miles total. That is not a marathon, but it is enough time to notice the pacing and the way the guide keeps the story moving so you are not stuck listening while standing in one spot too long.

Millionaire’s Row tombs, where architecture does the storytelling

The headline experience here is visiting the cemetery’s most extravagant section, often called Millionaire’s Row. Expect tombs that look like small monuments and buildings, not simple markers. The guide points out how these structures were designed, not just where people were laid to rest.

What I like about this part is that the tour explains the why behind the looks. You learn how inspiration, symbolism, and specific design choices were used to communicate status, faith, and memory. Instead of thinking, wow, that is ornate, you start asking better questions, like what the symbolism might mean and what families were trying to express.

You also get a feel for how cemetery culture works in New Orleans. Burial practices and tomb design are part of local identity, and this tour gives you enough context to read the cemetery like a text.

One possible drawback is that extravagant tombs can crowd your brain if you do not slow down. The tour helps with that by turning your walk into a guided sequence, so each stop adds one more layer instead of everything blending together.

Anne Rice, Al Copeland, and the famous names you’ll connect to

You will hit a set of widely recognized tombs that act like anchors for the rest of the tour. Two big examples: you stop at Popeyes founder Al Copeland’s tomb, and you also visit Anne Rice’s resting place.

These famous-name stops help in a very practical way. When you recognize a name, your brain relaxes and you listen for details you might otherwise skip. You start noticing things like the placement of statues, the materials used, and the decorative choices that show up around each monument.

Importantly, this tour does not treat fame as the whole point. The guide builds from the tomb’s art and symbolism into the broader cemetery story, including the kinds of figures who are laid to rest here. That approach is why the tour feels more like New Orleans history in motion rather than a photo scavenger hunt.

The sphinx-guarded pyramid, symbolism that actually clicks

One standout stop is the guarded pyramid, watched over by a sphinx. This is the kind of detail that many visitors spot on their own and then move past, unsure what it means.

Here, you get the symbolism and the history behind the design. The pyramid adds a mythic feeling to the cemetery, but the guide keeps it grounded in how cemetery art communicates meaning. You learn what to look for and why these elements were included, so the stop becomes more than a cool visual.

If you like architecture and symbols, this is one of the moments that will stick with you after your visit. It also gives you a change of pace, because you are shifting from “famous tombs” to “interpret the design.”

More than graves, a cast of mayors, mob bosses, and writers

Metairie is known for the range of people buried there, and this tour leans hard into that variety. You hear stories about the cemetery inhabitants, including mayors, governors, kings of Carnival, mob bosses, law enforcement, and groundbreaking journalists.

What makes this mix work is how the guide ties it back to the cemetery itself. You are not just hearing random trivia. You understand why certain monuments were created, and how public life, private status, and local culture show up in stone.

This is also where a guide’s voice matters. The most praised part of the experience is the storytelling, and the guide experience is often described as warm, engaging, and built on real research rather than a rehearsed script. If you go with even a mild interest in New Orleans characters, this part can turn into the most memorable part of the walk.

If you are someone who prefers a quiet cemetery visit, you might find the stories a bit lively. But if you like the weird and wonderful side of New Orleans history, you will probably welcome the energy.

Jewel-stained windows and an Islamic-inspired limestone tomb

You will also see a mix of styles and materials that widen your sense of what cemetery art can be in New Orleans. Expect a stop with jewel stained-glass windows, which adds color and an almost chapel-like feeling to the cemetery setting.

Another notable stop is an Islamic-inspired tomb made of limestone that a Confederate general built for his daughter. This is a heavy historical thread, and the tour frames it as part of the cemetery’s larger story, not as a standalone shock moment.

Why this section is valuable: it shows how families used design to express identity, beliefs, and relationships. Even when the history is uncomfortable, the symbolism and craftsmanship help you understand how people of that era thought about legacy.

The drawback here is time. When you walk past detailed work like stained glass, it can be tempting to rush. Stay with the guide a little longer than you think you need to, and you’ll catch more.

Getting your money’s worth: $35 for a guided walk plus two cemetery entries

At $35 per person for a 2-hour tour, the value comes from three things: a guided author and historian, admission tied to the cemetery experience, and the small extras that connect you to local culture.

You get guided tour time plus entry to Metairie Cemetery. You also get entry to Lake Lawn Metairie. That second admission matters if you want to continue exploring after the walking portion, or if you like comparing how different cemeteries in New Orleans handle architecture and symbolism.

Then there are the insider tips for local food, music, and culture. The tour is about tombs, but it also helps you make better use of the rest of your day in the city.

Before you book, keep the logistics in mind: hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You will meet at the Law Enforcement Memorial to the right of the funeral home, then take a right at the stop sign and use any of the entry gates to reach the memorial. If you are driving, you can park in the lot.

What to bring so the 2-mile walk feels easy

This outing is rain or shine, so pack for weather first and for photos second. The tour asks for comfortable shoes, sunscreen, water, and comfortable clothes.

A couple small tips that match how people experience the walk:

• If you can, bring an extra layer for morning shade and afternoon sun.
• One review mentions the guide provided water and an umbrella, which is a comfort if the weather shifts on you.
• There’s also a playful tip to bring peanuts for the crows. Not required, but it fits the spirit of a real local-guided stroll through a place where wildlife is part of the scene.

Who this tour is best for (and who should think twice)

This tour is a great fit if you:

• like cemetery culture and want more than names and dates
• enjoy architecture, symbolism, and reading details
• want a guided author approach with real storytelling

You might think twice if you:

• dislike walking for about 2 miles
• want a strictly quiet, no-talk cemetery visit
• need built-in transportation, since hotel pickup is not part of this experience

Should you book the Millionaire’s Tombs of Metairie Cemetery tour?

If you are in New Orleans and you want one cemetery outing that feels informed, character-driven, and visually specific, I think this is an easy yes. The combination of Millionaire’s Row, famous-name tomb stops like Anne Rice and Al Copeland, plus the sphinx-guarded pyramid gives you a strong “I learned a lot” outcome in just 2 hours.

The only real question is whether you are comfortable with steady walking in heat or rain. If you can handle that, this is the kind of tour that turns a cemetery visit into an actual New Orleans story you can carry home.

FAQ

How long is the New Orleans Millionaire’s Tombs of Metairie Cemetery tour?

The tour lasts 2 hours.

How much walking is involved?

It includes about 2 miles of walking.

Will the tour run in rain?

Yes, it will happen rain or shine.

Where do I meet the guide?

Meet at the Law Enforcement Memorial to the right of the funeral home. Take a right at the stop sign and use any of the entry gates to reach the memorial. If you are driving, there is parking in the lot.

What’s included in the ticket price?

The tour includes a guided tour with a local author and historian, entry to Metairie Cemetery, entry to Lake Lawn Metairie, and insider tips for local food, music, and culture.

What language is the tour guide speaking?

The tour is in English.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel and book without paying upfront?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, meaning you can book and pay nothing today.