Less than a mile from the heart of downtown Atlanta, a hidden treasure, a secret sanctuary, welcomes you. This garden cemetery, founded in 1850, is the final resting place of many of Atlanta’s settlers, builders, and most noted citizens like Bobby Jones, Margaret Mitchell, and Maynard Jackson. It is also a showplace of sculpture and architecture, and a botanical preserve with ancient oaks and magnolias. Here in this peaceful place the full scope of the city’s rich and fascinating history unfolds before you.
Upcoming Tours at Oakland
| Name of Tour | Tour Date | |
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Sights, Symbols & Stories of Oakland Discover the history, the period gardens, and the art and architecture that give Oakland its distinctive character. |
July 2
— July 3 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
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Dying in the 19th Century Learn about the mystery and science of death and dying during a time when the discovery of germ theory and anesthesia coexisted with the use of leeches, water cures, and medical quackery. |
July 2
— July 2 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM |
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The Women of Oakland This tour challenges the myth of Southern womanhood by uncovering the true social and personal histories of Atlanta’s pioneering women. |
July 3
— July 3 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM |
Historic Oakland Foundation Members are Free. Tours are $12 for adults and $6 for students and seniors 65 and over.
No reservations required.
Upcoming Events at Oakland
| Name of Event | Event Date | |
|---|---|---|
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From Terminus to Terminals: People Who Put Atlanta In Motion
Follow the journey of Atlanta’s evolution from a small-time rail town to a bustling metropolis and see how many Oakland Cemetery residents had a hand in it all.
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July 24
— July 24 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM |
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Love Stories of Oakland
Meet a few of Oakland Cemetery’s residents whose love lasts beyond their time here on earth.
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August 27
— August 27 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM |
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Sunday in the Park
Oakland Cemetery hosts its 37th annual Victorian-era street festival on Oct. 2
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October 2
— October 2 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM |
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News From Oakland
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Oakland Resident Spotlight: The Calico Houseby Larry Upthegrove In 1860, Oakland Cemetery resident Marcus Aurelius Bell decided to build an ornate, large house at the present corner of Courtland Street and Auburn Avenue in downtown … Continue reading
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Oakland Tours in Focus: Atlanta’s Baseball History and the Gate City Nineby Marcy Breffle, Education Coordinator On a spring afternoon in 1866, a group of men gathered in a green field not far from the front gate of Oakland Cemetery. The … Continue reading
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Tunes From the Tombs: An FAQWhat Is Tunes From the Tombs? Tunes From the Tombs is an annual music festival benefitting Historic Oakland Foundation, which in partnership with the City of Atlanta works to preserve, … Continue reading