Twilight Tours
No Reservations Required.
Saturdays and Sundays - 6:30-7:30 p.m. unless noted differently below.
March 20 through October 17, 2010
All tours begin at the Museum Shop located in the Bell Tower building. Prices for the Twilight Tours are the same as for other guided walking tours.
(Twilight Tour topics vary weekly. See Twilight Tour descriptions and schedule below.)
Twilight Tour Schedule
Sights, Symbols & Stories of Oakland - Discover
the period gardens, history, customs, architecture, and art that
give Oakland its distinctive character. Oakland is a museum of Atlanta’s
history with over 70,000 stories to tell--stories filled with victories
and tragedies, both beautiful and stunning.
Dates: March 28, May 23, May 29, June 12, June 20, July 24, July 25, August 21, September 4, September 11, September 18, September 25, October 2, October 9, October 16 and October 17.
Oakland and the Civil War - Stand at the site where General Hood stood to watch the Battle of Atlanta hear the story of the Great Locomotive Chase and Andrew’s Raiders. See the Lion of Atlanta as it lies wounded and dying over unknown soldiers from nearby battlefields, and the Confederate Memorial, at one time the tallest structure in Atlanta. Learn of the achievements of famous military leaders and soldiers during and after the war. Meet the several residents Margaret Mitchell is believed to have used as a basis for characters in Gone With the Wind. Franklin Garrett, the official Atlanta historian, once said: "History has several components: the participants, the chroniclers, and the historians. All of these components reside at Oakland." Dates: April 10, May 8, June 12, July 10, July 24-7:00 p.m., July 25- 7:00 p.m., August 14, September 11, October 9.
Pioneers of Atlanta: The First 20 Years - Meet the founding fathers of a place known as “Terminus,” where several railroad lines came together, to the town of Marthasville chartered in 1843, to the establishment of Atlanta in 1847. Wander among the graves of the first farmers, lawyers, early mayors, and town commissioners. Hear stories of accomplishments and failures, civil strife, gunfights and interaction with other developing communities that made us a community of people, not just an economic center. Dates: March 27, April 17, May 22, June 26, August 28, September 25.
Victorian Symbolism at Oakland - People of the Victorian period were fascinated by the past and borrowed symbols they learned from the archaeological digs taking place in Egypt, Greece, Israel, and Turkey. In many cases, the symbols were originally secular but were changed to religious, and could have a totally different meaning, one period to the other. Victorians believed that death was very peaceful and calming. The word “cemetery” means “sleeping place,” and many symbols reflect that concept. Our expert guides will acquaint you with the many botanical, secular, and religious symbols at Oakland and interpret their meaning. Dates: April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3, August 21, September 4, October 2.
African American History at Oakland - Learn about the many interesting African Americans who helped shape the history of Atlanta including Mayor Maynard Jackson; Bishop Wesley John Gaines, minister and founder of Morris Brown College; Carrie Steele Logan, who established the first black orphanage in Atlanta; Antoine Graves, pioneer real estate broker; and Selena Sloan Butler, co-founder of the parent-teacher association in the United States. Dates: April 18, June 27, July 31.
Dying in Nineteenth Century Atlanta - From the log cabin the Cherokee Indians called “medicine house,” through the establishment of Atlanta Medical College, to the medical advances resulting from the Civil War, this tour traces the history of death and disease in Atlanta in the 19th century. Atlanta in the early 1800s was considered the frontier. The rough and sometimes violent lifestyle, combined with the humid climate and swampy land, all contributed to illness, injury, and death among the population. Learn about the mystery and science of death and dying during a time when the discovery of germ theory and medical anesthesia coexisted with the use of leeches, water cures, and quack medicine.Dates: March 20, May 15, June 19, July 17, August 7, September 18, October 16.
Jewish Grounds of Oakland - This tour examines the Jewish Grounds of Oakland Cemetery and identifies patterns of assimilation and persistence which began to surface as waves of Jewish immigrants entered and adapted to the culture of Victorian America. In 1860, Atlanta was home to about 50 Jewish citizens. The Hebrew Benevolent Society purchased a burial plot within the Original Six Acres, now known as the Old Jewish Burial Grounds. It is the second oldest Jewish burial ground in Georgia. In 1892, the Hebrew Benevolent Society (The Temple) acquired yet another, much larger plot and sold one fourth of it to a newly formed synagogue, Ahavath Achim. Ahavath Achim, made up mainly of newly arrived immigrants from Russia, developed what is perhaps the most visually compelling area of Oakland, often described as "forest like" because of 7-foot markers tightly packed together. Our guides will share their knowledge of the Jewish community's history, notable citizens, burial customs, and symbolism on these grounds. Dates: July 18, September 19.
Margaret Mitchell and Gone With the Wind - Explaining how the idea for her novel came to her, Margaret Mitchell said,“in the cradle”. She had heard so much, as a child, about the battles and the hard times following the Civil War, she believed, for a long time, that her parents had actually been through it. The Pulitzer Prize winning novel was first published in 1936 and sold more than a million copies in the first six months. It is reputed to be the second most read book in the world, with the Bible being number one. This tour will visit the gravesites of Margaret Mitchell and her husband, John Marsh, as well as other Mitchell family members and pioneers of Atlanta. While none of the characters in the novel are specifically based on real life people, she scrambled appearances and personalities of some she knew and knew of, to weave a compelling saga of a world turned upside down. Dates: April 25, October 10.
The Women of Oakland - Early Atlanta was a man's world. The few women among them were wives of railroad workers and merchants, slaves, and others who possessed the essential skills needed in a growing frontier town: cooks, laundresses, seamstresses, and boardinghouse keepers. The advent of the Civil War and the reconstruction of Atlanta into a metropolitan center changed the fortunes of the city and dramatically altered the image and status of women. From the domain of domestic life to the province of public life, this tour challenges the myth of Southern womanhood by uncovering the true social and personal histories of Atlanta's pioneering women. Dates: April 4, May 2, June 6, August 1, September 5.
Art and Architecture of Death - From ancient times, people have sought to honor and perpetuate the memory of departed loved ones. In the 19th century, the development of rural, non-sectarian cemeteries like Oakland provided a setting that allowed for a diverse array of funerary tributes. Memorials reflected social status, wealth, and power. In the nineteenth century an unprecedented variety of materials and architectural styles was available. Focusing on the artistic and architectural design elements of funerary monuments, this tour explores the origin and use of popular 19th century grave markers including tombs and sarcophagi, obelisks and angels, monuments of all styles, shapes, and sizes and Oakland's magnificent mausoleums. As a microcosm of society, Oakland Cemetery reflects how the people of Atlanta lived and died. Architectural and design choices that Atlanta's citizens made during their lives followed them to the cemetery in the art and architecture that commemorates their deaths. Dates: April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, August 8, September 12.
Epitaphs- The Immortality of Words- How would you like to be remembered? Victorians gave considerable thought to this concept. An epitaph is described as “a statement commemorating or epitomizing a deceased person.” Join us as we explore some of the fascinating epitaphs that grace the monuments of Oakland. Whether brief or rambling, poignant or humorous, all provide insight into the person’s life. It’s a certainty that you’ll walk away with a favorite! Date: August 29.
Fear and Accusation: The Leo Frank Story - In 1913 Atlanta was a city in transition, socially, culturally, and politically. The Old South had crumbled less than fifty years before and the memory of the Civil War still hung heavy in the air. In fact, the Leo Frank story began that year on Confederate Memorial Day, April 26. Thirteen year old Mary Phagan planned to enjoy the festivities but her life came to a sudden, violent end that day at the National Pencil Company. Thus began a series of events that rank with the most tragic and indelible in the history of the city. Although much of the evidence collected was questionable at best, factory superintendent, Leo Frank, was soon accused, tried, and convicted of the heinous crime. Numerous Oakland residents played key roles in the event. Lives of both the rich and the poor were forever changed. Learn the stories behind the story in this thoughtful and thought provoking tour. Dates: April 24, May 30, August 15.
Odd Fellows, Red Men, Masons and more ...Fraternal Organizations at Oakland - Fraternal organizations in the United States were a post Civil War phenomenon. By the late 1800’s there were literally hundreds of such organizations with an estimated 1 in 4 adults belonging to one or more. The groups were either nationally, religious (or anti), politically, socially, or professionally based. One common element could be found in all – mutual aid for the members. Many of Oakland’s residents were active Woodmen of the World, Knights of Pythias, or Hibernians , just to name a few. Join us for a fascinating look at these organizations, many of which are still in existence today. Dates: March 21, May 16, August 22, September 26.
Mayors of Atlanta- Historic Oakland Cemetery is the final resting place for twenty-seven Atlanta mayors. Learn how these forward thinking movers and shakers placed their personal stamp on the capital city of Georgia and helped transform a dusty railroad town into the urban, cultural center it is today. Date: June 20 - 4:00 p.m.
Our tours are available as private tours for groups of five or more upon special request. Please contact Mary Woodlan at 404.688.2107 ext.15 for more information.
ShareThis
