Chalmette National Cemetery

The thousands of headstones at Chalmette National Cemetery represent thousands of men and women who served their country in the armed services.

NPS Photo/K. Nugent

 

Chalmette National Cemetery was established in May 1864. Its intent: serve as a final resting place for Union soldiers who died in Louisiana during the Civil War. Soldiers from wars centuries apart are together laid to rest in the tree-lined cemetery. Each grave represents not only an honorable sacrifice, but a window into the past.

The national cemetery is located on the site of the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, next to Chalmette Battlefield.

More than 15,000 headstones mark the gravesites of veterans. The War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, and the Vietnam War have representation here. At least six Americans who fought in the War of 1812 are buried here as well. Of the six, only one of them participated in the Battle of New Orleans.

In 1933, responsibility of the Chalmette National Cemetery was transferred from the War Department to the National Park Service. This transfer also marked a shift in how the cemetery was preserved, from maintaining it as a national shrine, to maintaining it as a national park. Chalmette National Cemetery represents a continuum of use over 150 years. It preserves the historic character, uniqueness, and solemn nature of both the cemetery and the historical park of which it is a part. It is for this reason that the headstones are not uniform or perfect. They retain the historical narrative of the interred and the wars that they witnessed.

More about Chalmette National Cemetery:

• answers to frequently asked questions.

• the list of headstones in Chalmette National Cemetery is being updated. If you need information about headstones or burials, email the park.

• a self-guided audio tour of Chalmette National Cemetery is available at 504-799-0803. (Long distance or cell phone charges may apply). Information about the tour and a map of the tour sites is available at the visitor center at Chalmette Battlefield next to the cemetery. You can also take a virtual version of the audio tour. The tour tells the story of five soldiers buried at the national cemetery:

  • the unknown soldier who fought at the Battle of New Orleans

  • four Civil War soldiers, including a woman who disguised herself as a man to join the Union army.

For information about public access, please visit the Chalmette Battlefield Visitor Center webpage. To reach the battlefield visitor center, call 504-281-0510. Links to maps, public transportation, pets, permits for special uses, etc., are available on the basic information page.

Questions regarding interments at the national cemetery should be directed to the park superintendent's office at 504-589-3882.

Wreaths Across America and dozens of volunteers laid evergreen wreaths at headstones in Chalmette National Cemetery in mid-December, turning the landscape into one of solemn beauty. Learn more about Wreaths Across America and their mission to honor veterans here.

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