Pyramids as tombs reflect the generations-old fascination with Egyptian burial practices.
Pyramids in St. Louis
St. Louis Cemetery Number One, that is. Egyptian-style tombs remain popular in New Orleans’ above-ground cemeteries. While there are more elaborate pyramids in other cemeteries, there are two in St. Louis No. 1, the city’s oldest.
The Varney family tomb stands near the cemetery’s entrance on Basin Street. Above is an E. C. Cropp postcard from the mid-1920s, showing the pyramid. The tomb experienced a lot of wear over the years. The image shows the red brick beneath white plaster and whitewash paint. While nobody wants to see tombs falling apart, the image offers background on how tombs are built.
At top we see another image of the pyramid, also a Cropp postcard, from the 1940s. The cemetery (or the tomb’s owners) restored the plaster and gave the tomb a good coat of paint.
This 2024 photo by Commons user miguel.discart shows the tomb as you’ll see it if you visit the cemetery now.
Nicholas Cage
Tom Hilton photo
There’s a second pyramid in the cemetery. Actor Nick Cage acquired a plot for what we assume will be his final resting place:
The empty grave is a stark, nine-foot-tall stone pyramid that stands in obvious contrast to the blockier, above-ground burial sites that have been crumbling away in the cemetery for over two centuries. There is no name on the pyramid yet, but it is emblazoned with the Latin maxim, “Omnia Ab Uno,” which translates to “Everything From One.”
Cage’s pyramid stands out, but it isn’t all that unusual. The Atlas Obscura article quoted above goes into detail on Cage’s relationship with the city. New Orleanians tend to complain when outsiders acquire or change landmarks in the city. This sparks the debate of when does someone become a “local” or are they always just a “carpetbagger.” Feel free to express your thoughts on this in comments.
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