Historic Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta Georgia -The oldest cemetery, and one of the largest green spaces in Atlanta. Founded as 'Atlanta Cemetery' in 1850 on 6 acres of land. It was renamed in 1872 to reflect the large number of oak and magnolia trees growing in the area.
General Info
Oakland Cemetery is the oldest cemetery, as well as one of the largest green spaces, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded as "Atlanta Cemetery" in 1850 on six acres of land southeast of the city, it was renamed in 1872 to reflect the large number of oak and magnolia trees growing in the area. By that time, the city had grown and the cemetery had enlarged correspondingly to the current 48 acres.
Since then, Atlanta has continued to expand, so that the cemetery is now located in the center of the city. Oakland is an excellent example of a Victorian-style cemetery, and reflects the "garden cemetery" movement started and exemplified by Mount Auburn Cemetery in Massachusetts.
The original 6 acres of Oakland remains one of the oldest historical plots of land in Atlanta, most of the rest of the city having been burned in 1864. Because of its age and location, the cemetery directly reflects the history and changing culture of the City of Atlanta Georgia and the significant events it has seen.
Names of Atlanta Georgia streets, buildings, parks, subdivisions, and more can be found within the cemetery gates. An estimated 70,000 people are interred at Oakland, and while the last plots were sold in 1884, there are still regular burials today. These are largely conducted on family-owned plots or areas owned by Atlanta (one of the most recent being former mayor Maynard Jackson, whose plot was contributed by the city).
One way in which Atlanta’s evolution can be traced at Oakland is the physical arrangement of the cemetery. Threads of civic history are interwoven in Oakland’s layout: Atlanta’s small-town beginnings, slavery, war, religious sectarianism and industrialization.
The cemetery layout includes the: Original Six Acres, Knit Mill, Bell Tower Ridge, Hogpen Corner, Greenhouse Valley, Potter’s Field, African American Grounds, Confederate Memorial Grounds, Jewish Sections and Roger’s Hill.
Come learn about the men and women who laid the foundation for today's Atlanta Georgia. Pass through the gates of Oakland and you will discover Atlanta's history, from the beginning. Open Daily Dusk-dawn. Group tours by appt. Free to walk through. Fee for group tours.
Amenities: Parking, Public Restrooms, Accessibility for mobility-impaired, Party Facilities
Noble Residents
Ivan Allen, Jr. - Mayor of Atlanta from 1962 to 1970
Jacob Elsas - Philanthropist and owner of the Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill
Bishop Wesley John Gaines - Former slave, second pastor of Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, and founder of Morris Brown College
Joel Hurt - Neighborhood developer and founder of the first electric trolley system in Atlanta
Maynard Jackson - The first African American mayor of Atlanta serving three terms, first African American mayor of any major Southern city
Joseph Jacobs - Owner of pharmacy where Coca-Cola was first served as a beverage in 1886
Bobby Jones - Golfer, winner of "The Grand Slam" taking the trophy for 1930 The British Amateur, The British Open, U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Open
Carrie Steele Logan - An ex-slave who established the first African American orphanage (The Carrie Steele-Pitts Home) in Atlanta
Margaret Mitchell - Pulitzer Prize winning author of the most popular novel ever written, Gone With the Wind
Morris and Emanuel Rich - Founders of M. Rich Dry Goods which became one of the largest retail department store chains in the South guide.
The Lion of Atlanta guarding nearly 3000 unknown Confederate dead
