May 2 , 2008
Thanks to the tireless efforts of staff, volunteers, City officials, Federal and State Emergency Management Agencies and the State Historic Preservation Office, we have taken significant steps towards the cleanup and recovery of Oakland Cemetery. The task of restoring an historic landmark after a natural disaster is neither easy nor commonly undertaken. There are no quick answers early on and few definitive answers even weeks later. However, there is hope, there is knowledge, and there is progress.
Due to the nature of the cleanup effort, Oakland Cemetery is closed to all unescorted visitors.
We have resumed private group tours on weekdays, when possible. It is hoped that our regularly scheduled guided weekend tours will resume within a few weeks. We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this critical time. To schedule a weekday group tour for 8+ people or to confirm your previously scheduled tour, please call Mary Woodlan at 404-688-2107.
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.
From a hilltop in Oakland Cemetery, General John B. Hood watched the Battle of Atlanta, and nearby lie soldiers from both sides who died in it. From that point you will have one of the best views of Atlanta's growing skyline, and you will begin to understand the people who came together to make Atlanta what it is today.
Spend an hour or a day exploring Oakland on your own or with a knowledgeable tour guide. Come learn about the men and women who laid the foundation for today's Atlanta. Pass through the gates of Oakland and you will discover Atlanta's history, from the beginning.
