St Roch Cemetery No. 1 ~ Campo Santo

St Roch Cemetery No. 1, also called Campo Santo, is a Catholic cemetery on St Roch Avenue in New Orleans. Founded in 1874, it is named for Saint Roch of Majorca and is known for its Gothic chapel and rows of mausoleums and statues. A room in the chapel holds prosthetics and organ replicas left as devotional offerings. The grounds are quiet and carefully maintained, with paved paths through the cemetery. Entry is free, though the chapel is only open to visitors on the last Friday of the month.

A cemetery founded in 1874

St Roch Cemetery No. 1 was established in 1874 by Rev. Peter Leonard Thevis and named for Saint Roch of Majorca, a medieval saint. The grounds cover two city blocks and contain mausoleums and statues along paved paths. Its historic tombs include inscriptions connected with families from Europe, including German-speaking regions.

The cemetery is a place of worship and remembrance. Its quiet paths invite a measured walk among the monuments, with care taken not to disturb those visiting graves or attending services.

The chapel and its offerings

The cemetery chapel is noted for its Gothic architecture and is used for worship and funerals. A room inside contains objects left by believers as tributes to Saint Roch, including braces, glass eyes, dental plates, prosthetics and replicas of organs. These offerings have been left there since the 19th century.

The chapel is open to visitors on the last Friday of each month. Views inside may be limited when the windows are obscured, so access to the chapel is the way to see the collection. The grounds are generally well maintained, but parts of the paving have cracked over time; sturdy footwear is useful.