2026 marks a major milestone for Historic Oakland Foundation—our 50th Anniversary!
For five decades, we’ve worked tirelessly to preserve, restore, enhance, and share Oakland Cemetery—Atlanta’s oldest public burial ground and a cherished green space for culture, reflection, and connection.
From our humble beginnings in 1976 to raising more than $50 million and transforming 48 acres of once-neglected land into a nationally recognized historic site, our journey has transformed Oakland into a beloved treasure that is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Now, as we celebrate this extraordinary legacy and look ahead to the next fifty years, we’re thrilled to announce the Golden Jubilee Celebration—a year-long series of events and initiatives honoring our past, celebrating our present, and envisioning our future together.
Get Involved with Historic Oakland Foundation’s 50th Anniversary
50 Years of Service
We’re kicking off our 50th Anniversary celebration the week of June 1, 2026, with Five Days of Service—a special week dedicated to giving back to the place that has given us so much.
Throughout the week, volunteers and community members will roll up their sleeves and work side by side on projects that keep Oakland beautiful and thriving.
From clean-up efforts and gardening projects to preservation work, there will be meaningful ways for everyone to get involved.
50th Anniversary Yard Signs
Help us celebrate a milestone year for Historic Oakland Foundation by showing your support with a festive 50th Anniversary yard sign!
Displaying a sign is a fun and visible way to share in the celebration and let the community know you’re proud to support Oakland. Every yard sign purchase is also a direct contribution to our mission to preserve, restore, enhance, and share Oakland Cemetery.
Pick-Up Information:
Yard signs can be picked up at the Oakland Visitor Center during weekday business hours (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) or at any of our Finally Friday events.
Thank you for helping us mark 50 years of impact and preservation!
Golden Jubilee Picnic
Mark your calendars for the signature event of the year: the Golden Jubilee Picnic on September 24, 2026!
This is a celebration of everything we’ve accomplished together and a chance to imagine what the next 50 years can bring.
Victorian picnic? Cemetery chic? When you purchase a table you can (and should!) decorate it to celebrate what matters the most to you and show your love for all things Oakland.
Bring your own food and beverages (non-alcoholic drinks, beer, and wine permitted) or select from one of our featured vendors, who will prepare a ready-to-enjoy picnic pack for your table.
And when the sun sets, the celebration continues at our After Party in the Oakland Visitor Center Overlook—a stunning new space made possible by your generosity and commitment to preservation.
50th Anniversary Fund
Throughout 2026, we will also launch our 50th Anniversary Fund, a transformative campaign to raise $1 million in support of Oakland’s future.
This fund will accelerate vital preservation projects, protect Oakland’s historic gardens, and ensure the Cemetery’s continued care for decades to come.
With your help, we can continue transforming Oakland into a place where stories live, history is honored, and community thrives.
Protecting History
Preservation projects that include Original Six Acres, The Oakland Gate, Potter’s Field and Metal Works
Beautifying Oakland
Gardens projects that include landscaping upgrades, benches and the Greenhouse
Ensuring the Future
Sustainability projects that include Solar Panels, Electric Vehicles & Equipment and Critical Repair Funds
