Atlanta is home to many cemeteries. A few, like Oakland, have remained a prominent part of the city’s culture. Most, though, are known only to a few family members or to the current owner of the property the cemetery rests…
A new exhibit has opened in the Women's Comfort Station, a 1908 restroom and shelter for women during poor weather that now serves as a space for rotating exhibits. The exhibit, Immortal Women of Oakland, explores the stories of six…
True love can overcome distance and seemingly impossible odds. James Tate (d. 1897) and his wife Olivia (d. 1907) were a couple enslaved in west Georgia. In the early years of the Civil War, Olivia and their two children, Jimmie…
Historic Oakland Foundation (HOF) has publicly launched its most significant fundraising effort in the organization’s 45-year history—the Living History capital campaign, co-chaired by community leader May B. Hollis and former First Lady of Atlanta and advertising executive Valerie Jackson. HOF…
Historic Oakland Foundation's more than 300 active volunteers conduct research, lead tours, work in the gardens, welcome folks in the Visitors Center, help with our Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween tours, and so much more. Our volunteers are at…
If you’ve taken a walk through historic Oakland Cemetery’s Bell Tower Ridge, you may have noticed a large monument dedicated to the Atlanta Typographical Union. It’s surrounded by a cluster of small, mostly unmarked stones. This modest plot happens to…
We typically think of stone, brick, and cement as being strong, solid, and impervious, right? Not entirely. Both natural stone like marble, granite, and limestone and manufactured building materials like cinder blocks and concrete are porous. This means that these…
Discover the origins and stories of holiday plants with Richard Waterhouse, executive director of Buckhead Heritage and Victorian Symbolism tour guide. Holly and Greenery One of the rites of passage that takes place in Christian churches during the Christmas season…
Oakland’s mature trees are an integral part of Oakland’s character. They are the only living link that remains of what Oakland was. They've seen many funerals and family picnics and you can’t help but wonder what stories they could tell.…
On Tuesday, November 30, at 10:00 a.m. Historic Oakland Foundation and the City of Atlanta held a groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation of Oakland Cemetery’s iconic 1899 Bell Tower building. The ceremony took place at the Oakland Bell Tower inside…