Some of the most important early French families in St. Louis originally had their graves in downtown St. Louis, even in the cemetery around the Old Cathedral. When they were removed, most ended up at Calvary Cemetery, including the Chouteau family.

As is common in many large family plots, the land is divided up into four branches of the family, and the burials are not always spread out evenly.

Nearby is the extremely important early French colonist John Lucas, whose family plot is dominated by a tall obelisk.