Katrina Memorial
New Orleans, LA
On the northern end of the Charity Hospital Cemetery, in an area where many of New Orleans' famous cemeteries are located, this memorial honors the lives of those lost during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. While many people who died during the hurricane were buried elsewhere, the memorial houses the remains of people whose bodies were unidentified or unclaimed.
The basics
The Hurricane Katrina Memorial is designed in a semi-curlicue shape, which represents the form of a hurricane and serves as a labyrinth for contemplation. Unmarked mausoleum cubes surround it, and there are benches at the center for those who wish to stop and reflect at the site. Many people visit on their own. Travelers who want to learn more about the hurricane's impact on the city should consider a Hurricane Katrina–focused history tour.
Things to know before you go
- The Hurricane Katrina Memorial is recommended for travelers interested in contemporary history.
- Be mindful that this is a place of remembrance, and some visitors you encounter may be mourning loved ones.
- The memorial and its access path are paved and suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.
How to get there
The Hurricane Katrina Memorial is located just off of Canal Street, northwest of the Central Business District (downtown) and the French Quarter. The easiest way to get there from the heart of the city is by taking streetcar 47 up Canal Street to the Cemeteries Transit Terminal. You can also take bus 91 from Louis Armstrong Park straight to the memorial.
When to get there
The best time to visit the memorial depends on the season. If you're in town in the summer, it's better to come first thing in the morning, when temperatures are a little cooler (thunderstorms are common on summer afternoons). The weather is generally pleasant around Mardi Gras, so it’s worth a visit any time of day.
Visiting the Presbytère
A great place to learn more about Hurricane Katrina and how it changed New Orleans forever is at the Presbytère, an outpost of the Louisiana State Museum housed in a former Capuchin clergy house. The museum has two exhibits: one on Mardi Gras and a second one, "Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond," which recounts the events of Katrina and the city's post-storm renovation.
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