Find Hotels Near Oakland Cemetery Atlanta

Established in 1850, Oakland Cemetery is located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia. It serves as a historic reminder of the city's past and is also the final resting place for many prominent figures from both the Civil War and civil rights movement. With its sprawling grounds, ornate monuments, grand mausoleums, and lush foliage, Oakland Cemetery offers tranquility and beauty to its visitors in a bustling city center.

Oakland Cemetery is home to more than 70,000 souls who are buried among its 48 acres of land. Notable people such as Margaret Mitchell (author of Gone with the Wind), golf legend Bobby Jones, six former mayors of Atlanta including Maynard Jackson, civil war generals like Edward Porter Alexander and Alfred Iverson, Jr., civil rights icons like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Hank Aaron (baseball legend), golf course designer Tom Bendelow, politician Jo Ann Robinson, author Mae West Tichenor, philanthropist Asa Griggs Candler (the founder of Coca-Cola), author Sidney Lanier, Confederate soldier David Manson Sligh Philpot (the first soldier in history to be awarded two Medals of Honor), businessman Amos Rhodes (who established much of downtown Atlanta’s architecture) are all interred here.

The cemetery's sweeping landscape features several sections that vary widely in style due to different historical periods throughout which it was developed. The Victorian section has rolling hills lined with magnolias and ancient oaks as well as majestic mausoleums modeled after European cathedrals. A variety of bird species can often be seen perched on branches or soaring overhead while butterflies alight upon wildflowers that bloom along pathways throughout the cemetery. In addition to its breathtaking beauty there are several memorials dedicated to key figures from the Civil War era including a marble obelisk honoring those who died at the Battle of Atlanta in 1864 and a Garfield Memorial Monument dedicated to Union soldiers who perished at nearby Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park during their march toward Atlanta..

In addition to being a stunning place for visitors to explore and reflect upon our nation's history Oakland also serves as an important community resource for educational programs about our city's past. The Historic Oakland Foundation hosts year-round events such as lectures given by local historians or public tours featuring knowledgeable guides ready to provide information about forgotten heroes from our past along with tales about beloved characters from literature or cinema. The foundation also works hard to preserve this sacred ground through comprehensive restoration projects such as restoring original headstones or improving drainage systems throughout the cemetery grounds while striving to maintain its natural beauty for generations yet unborn.