Louisiana Register of Historic Cemeteries

BY ISABEL BERMAN

This past summer, students from the Master of Science in Historic Preservation program collaborated with Heather Veneziano, Professor of Practice in Historic Preservation, through her consulting firm, Gambrel & Peak—Historic Preservation Consulting, on an important initiative for the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation. Together, they helped create the Louisiana Register of Historic Cemeteries, a comprehensive GIS-based database designed to document and preserve the state's vast collection of cemeteries. The team undertook the monumental task of compiling information on approximately 8,600 cemeteries across Louisiana, including detailed geo-tagged location data, links to related resources, site documentation, and in some cases, historical narratives about the burial grounds.

The project also invites the public to contribute crowdsourced information, encouraging community engagement to expand the list of known cemeteries, add photos, and enrich the information available on those already documented. This feature allows individuals to actively participate in the preservation of these sites, capturing the current state of cemeteries and enriching the historical narrative with personal insights.

For those who want a cemetery to be officially certified and added to the historic register, one of three criteria must be met: (1)The first burial must have occurred at least 50 years ago, (2)The cemetery must include the burial of a person of local, state, or national importance due to civic, public, or military service, cultural achievement, or historical significance, or (3)The site must contain architecturally significant structures. Importantly, there is no fee to nominate a cemetery for certification, making it accessible to all community members.

The registry also serves as a valuable tool for genealogists who are tracing their family history. Those who have studied their ancestry may discover that an ancestor rests in one of Louisiana’s quiet, often overlooked cemeteries. By nominating these burial sites or contributing additional information, genealogists and history enthusiasts help preserve these sacred spaces for future generations while deepening the understanding of Louisiana's rich cultural heritage.

This initiative not only highlights the significance of cemeteries as part of Louisiana’s cultural and historical fabric, but also aims to protect the growing threats these memorial landscapes face from coastal erosion, climate change, industrial encroachment, and abandonment. By making this information publicly available, the project ensures that these endangered cemeteries are acknowledged and protected, while also offering a platform for community involvement in safeguarding their heritage. 

This collaborative effort preserves Louisiana's historic cemeteries for future generations, ensuring their stories are not lost and their significance remains part of the state's rich cultural legacy.

(Above image from The New Orleans Cemetery Database)