NEW ORLEANS CITY TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Garden District Secrets & Scandals: Mansions, Movies, and Mouthwatering Gossip
A two-hour small-group walking tour of the Garden District that visits Lafayette Cemetery from the gate, film locations, and notable mansions while guides unpack scandalous local stories.
Garden District Secrets & Scandals: Mansions, Movies, and Mouthwatering Gossip.
Pull back the curtain on one of New Orleans’ most photographed neighborhoods: a personalized, small-group walking tour that moves between Lafayette Cemetery, iconic film locations and stately Victorian and Greek Revival homes while guides animate scandals, oddities and the social history that shaped the Garden District.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Lafayette Cemetery and the City’s Burial Traditions
The tour stops at historic Lafayette Cemetery (currently closed for repairs and viewed from the gate) to explain New Orleans’ distinctive burial methods and the stories tied to the graveyard’s past.
Grand Mansions and Filigree Facades
Stroll past emblematic houses — from Sandra Bullock’s Victorian home to the cornstalk fence of Col. Short’s Mansion and the Buchanan Mansion tied to American Horror Story — and hear how architecture intersects with personal scandal and celebrity ownership.
Entertaining, Personalized Storytelling
Small groups and passionate guides — entertainers and self-described history nerds — shape the tour to the group, answering questions and delivering the neighborhood’s more scandalous, hilarious and memorable stories.
What the day feels like
What the Walk Feels Like
Over two hours you move deliberately through the Garden District, pausing at gates and porches as guides thread scandal, film lore and architectural detail into an interactive narrative; stops are chosen to reflect both the icons you expect to see and whatever curiosities your group asks about.
THE HISTORY
Lafayette Cemetery and the City’s Burial Traditions
The tour stops at historic Lafayette Cemetery (currently closed for repairs and viewed from the gate) to explain New Orleans’ distinctive burial methods and the stories tied to the graveyard’s past.
THE ARCHITECTURE
Grand Mansions and Filigree Facades
Stroll past emblematic houses — from Sandra Bullock’s Victorian home to the cornstalk fence of Col. Short’s Mansion and the Buchanan Mansion tied to American Horror Story — and hear how architecture intersects with personal scandal and celebrity ownership.
THE GUIDE
Entertaining, Personalized Storytelling
Small groups and passionate guides — entertainers and self-described history nerds — shape the tour to the group, answering questions and delivering the neighborhood’s more scandalous, hilarious and memorable stories.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who gets the most out of this walk — and who should take precautions.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
This is a 2-hour walking tour.
Meet at Washington Ave. & Coliseum St. by the cemetery wall; tours depart from this location.
Tour runs rain or shine — bring an umbrella for wet weather; on hot days bring bottled water (available near the tour start at The Chicory House coffee shop).
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the tour?
The tour lasts 2 hours.
Where is the meeting point?
Meet at Washington Ave. & Coliseum St. by the Lafayette Cemetery wall.
Is Lafayette Cemetery open for entry?
Lafayette Cemetery is presently closed for repairs and will be viewed from the gate during the tour.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Those under age 12 may not find the historical and scandalous subject matter entertaining.
Will we see film and TV locations?
Yes — the itinerary includes film locations tied to Django Unchained, Benjamin Button, Interview with the Vampire and American Horror Story.
What should I bring for weather and hydration?
Bring an umbrella for rain; on hot days bring bottled water, which is available near the tour start at The Chicory House coffee shop.