An End-of-Year Message from CEO & President Richard Harker

2025 has been an amazing year. In this season of gratitude, I am so grateful and proud of the staff, volunteers, partners, community, visitors, donors, and members who make Oakland what it is: a vibrant part of the community, unlike any cemetery in the country.

We need your support to continue this work and increase the speed with which we’re able to care for Oakland and share it with the public. 

Every dollar donated to Historic Oakland Foundation is reinvested into our mission to preserve, restore, enhance, and share Oakland Cemetery in partnership with the City of Atlanta.

Your donations, purchases of tickets and Oakland store gifts and souvenirs, and memberships all contribute to the funds that we have available to live our mission every day for you.  

Because of your support, we can:

·      Fix broken walkways to make them safer and easier to navigate

·      Reset head stones and retaining walls to ensure they’re not lost to time and nature

·      Design and implement engaging, fun, educational, and entertaining programming for visitors of all ages

·      Add new plants, flowers, and shrubs to beautify Oakland’s historic landscape

·      Care for Oakland’s existing tree canopy to ensure that we can enjoy their benefit for decades to come

·      Expand how we tell the story of Oakland to more and more folks around the country,

·      And continue to make Oakland a world-class cemetery, park, and historic site for everyone.

Oakland is a place that brings joy in dark times, connects us to each other, and provides respite, relief, recreation, and relaxation. As stewards of Oakland we do this for you and for future generations.

For the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to enjoy and appreciate Oakland’s incredible 48-acres. For the tourists taking a tour to dig a little deeper into Atlanta’s history and understand this amazing city. For the families who come to visit with loved ones, living and dead, and for whom this sacred space offers peace and solace. For the neighbors who have a favorite tree or bench to enjoy and escape the hustle and bustle of city life. And, for the joggers and walkers for whom Oakland’s rolling hills recharge the body and mind on a daily basis.

 We are beyond grateful for your support in helping us do this work, please consider a tax-deductible gift to Oakland in this season of gratitude so that we can continue this work with increased vigor in the coming months and years.

Donate to Historic Oakland Foundation

Richard Harker

CEO & President

Historic Oakland Foundation