Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta

Oakland Cemetery
By Jeannette Holland Austin

If you wish to discover the first families in Atlanta, Oakland Cemetery is the place to look. It was founded in 1850 and is the final resting place of those who built Atlanta. The beautiful tombs and vaults set in a garden atmosphere are but a memory of days long since past. The cemetery was closed to burials sometime before 1890, however, people who owned lots were buried there afterwards. Margaret Mitchell, the author of Gone with the Wind is such a person. The book History of Fulton County lists the early residents of Atlanta in their various political capacities. It is fun to recognize some of the names in this cemetery. In essence, if your family resided near downtown Atlanta in the old days, best do a walk-through.



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Oakland Cemetery

The City of Atlanta  purchased six acres of land in 1850 to be used as a public burial ground.  It was first called the Atlanta Graveyard or City Burial Place. Oakland Cemetery buried many of the soldier's of the War Between the States, first Mayors and city fathers.  In 1872 the first city cemetery was renamed Oakland.  This is a wonderful historical site to visit, with it's aesthetic gardens and scenic tours.

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W. A. Rawson Monument in Oakland Cemetery

The W. A. Rawson Monument stands regally in Atlanta's oldest cemetery,  Oakland. It is a pleasant day spent, especially during the spring, to visit this lovely ornamental garden. You can smell the flowers! Also, if you are curious as to the names of Atlanta's first settlers, this is the place!

Visit Georgia Pioneers website to see more of Oakland's tombstones and historical sites