battlefield became part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in 1978. Floral design Consistent with widespread interest in the language of flowers during the late 19th century in the United States, designers of the cemetery made extensive use of landscaping to honor the deceased. These plants and trees in the 19th century landscaping of the cemetery included arbor vitae, cedar, magnolias, weeping willows, roses, olive trees, sago palms, and laurels, each species having symbolic value. Changes to layout The original entrance to the Chalmette National Cemetery was from the Mississippi River, as visitors typically arrived and departed by boat. By 1910, a railroad and a highway had been constructed at the northern end of the cemetery. The main entrance to the cemetery was moved to the northern end at that time. The levees at the riverside of the cemetery were widened following the Great Mississippi River Flood of 1927. This expansion necessitated that the remains of approximately 400 soldiers had to be relocated, to a mass grave. The superintendent's house at the Mississippi River side of the cemetery was demolished and replaced by two smaller buildings near the new entrance to the cemetery. Chalmette National Cemetery suffered considerable damage in 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina and also Hurricane Rita, with the toppling of headstones and much of the perimeter wall. The days and times that the park and cemetery were open to the public were limited for several years afterward. Previously, Hurricane Betsy and Hurricane Camille had damaged the cemetery, especially the foliage. Gallery See also United States Department of Veterans Affairs Chalmette Unit, Jean Lafitte National Historial Park and Preserve Historic Cemeteries of New Orleans References External links National Park Service Cultural Landscapes Inventory: Chalmette National Cemetery (1988) Cemeteries on the National Register of Historic Places in Louisiana Protected areas of St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana United States national cemeteries 1814 establishments in the United States Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Louisiana National Register of Historic Places in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana National Park Service areas in Louisiana Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in the United States