Hope Mausoleum

I am continuously amazed by sheer volume of people who are compelled to voice their complaints about how far and wide they traveled to visit somewhere (in particular a deeply historical landmark) such as this. Yet it never occurs to them during these precipitously arduous ventures to make a simple phone call to verify that they will indeed be able to achieve the goal they're traveling for in the first place. Albeit reading the touting of credentials as an expert genealogist and/or crypt keeper does add an extra element of hilarity & irony!
Mar 8th, 2023

I entered Hope Mausoleum today to visit three people interred there, when a man came from somewhere hollering at me that, we arent letting anyone back there. I stated the gate was open and he said, I must have locked it wrong, we arent letting anyone in its too humid. Who are you seeing? I stated two of the three names. I told him it is absurd that people cannot visit their families and left. Very unprofessional. Incarcerating the deceased is not very respectful.
Nov 29th, 2022

Oct 25th, 2022

Soseveral generations of my family are buried here in the front and back buildings and in St Johns Cemetery, which is in the middle. One day I will be here, too. Have visited maybe 100 times through the years and have never once been yelled at or treated disrespectfully. I come to mourn, as do others. The mosaics and stained glass, many tucked away, are incredibly beautiful. But I come with flowers, am dressed conservatively, and if I occasionally have someone with me, we talk in a hushed tone as we walk, especially through the mausoleum, which is marble, so the sound carries. Unfortunately, New Orleans cemeteries are frequent targets of vandals, thieves and rowdy tourists. Statuaries end up in antique shops, the Fireman at the end of Canal Street has his head cut off, vampire fans cause mayhem, the list is long. It seems Hope has a caretaker who takes his job seriously. Its not my place to give anyone permission to enter, but I suspect that those who enter as I do, will not have a problem.
Feb 13th, 2023

On 2/25/22, my sister and I attempted to gain entry to the mausoleum to visit the crypt of our grandparents and other relatives.  We were met by a man at the entrance, possibly the same one referred to in other reviews, and told that we must have either proof of ownership of the crypt, or a documented close relationship to those entombed.  I inquired if an online family tree with over 13,000 unique names, clearly showing the relationships, would be proof.  He said no and that we could not enter.While there was no escalation into the shouting that others have described in reviews, I was disappointed and distressed that, after traveling 600 miles from my home in South Carolina, we would not be admitted.  I consider the policy, as expressed to us, as showing dishonor and disrespect to the memory of my recently deceased mother, who is our link to those in the crypt we wished to visit.As one who has done genealogy for five years now, this is the first time a cemetery I visited has presented itself to me as some kind of maximum-security museum.  Not a good look at all.
Mar 8th, 2022