30-60 Minutes
Chalmette National Cemetery Audio Tour
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
This tour of the Chalmette National Cemetery shares a few of the thousands of stories of the men and women buried at the national cemetery, giving a voice to those who can no longer speak.
In May 1864, Chalmette National Cemetery was established in May 1864, during the Civil War, a few miles downriver from New Orleans. The cemetery was created on the same ground where American troops had stopped a British invasion at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Intered in this cemetery are over 16,000 men and women. Troops from every American conflict from the War of 1812 to the Vietnam War are buried there. This tour shares a few of the thousands of stories of the men and women buried at the national cemetery, giving a voice to those who can no longer speak. To hear the tour, call 504-799-0803 (long distance or cell phone charges may apply). Enter the stop number for the stop you want to hear; for example, press 1 to hear stop 1. Press *0 to leave a comment. Tour Stop 1: Charles A. Hamilton, Civil War Tour Stop 2: Benjamin G. Ames, Civil War Tour Stop 3: Henry Dunham, Civil War Tour Stop 4: Lyons Wakeman (Sarah Rosetta Wakeman), Civil War Tour Stop 5: unknown soldier from Tennessee, War of 1812 Battle of New Orleans
Tags
Self-Guided Tours - WalkingAfrican American HeritageBurial, Cemetery and GravesiteNational CemeteryEnslavementMilitaryBattlefieldsMonuments and MemorialsWars and ConflictsCivil WarWar of 1812Women's Historyself guided tourself guided walkself guidedwalking tourcemeteryCemetery Tourwar of 1812Chalmette National CemeteryChalmette Battlefield
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Details
Duration
30-60 Minutes
Duration Details
This is a self-guided and self-paced tour. The drive from the French Quarter to the Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery will take approximately 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Fees Apply
No
Seasons
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Time of Day
Day
Accessibility
The roadway through the Chalmette National Cemetery is wheelchair accessible, but the cemetery itself may not be accessible. It is relatively flat but has tree roots and uneven spots. The tour is an audio tour. A transcription of the tour is available: Chalmette Cemetery Audio Tour Transcript. Accessable restrooms are available at the Chalmette Battlefield Visitor Center. Service animals are always welcome.
Pets
No — Out of respect for those buried here, no pets are allowed in the National Cemetery, not even on the roadway or gravel trail. As always, service animals are welcome anywhere.
Reservations
No
Location
Chalmette National Cemetery