The Effects of Acid Rain at Oakland
Why do some headstones at Oakland look more weathered than others? Why are some crisp and as easy to read as the day they were carved while others appear to have melted? The primary reason for this has to do…
A Summer of Storytelling
I love stories. I can spend hours reading blurbs on the back of books or watching movie trailers because I love the feeling of something capturing and enticing me. Telling history is, in essence, storytelling. There is a plot, there…
Story Behind the Stone: Alfred Eichberg’s Copyrighted Tombstone
Alfred Salom Eichberg was a prominent Victorian-era architect and one of the first Jewish architects to practice his trade in the Southeast. At historic Oakland Cemetery, he’s also known as the only person who has a copyrighted tombstone. Alfred was…
Oakland: The Cemetery that Keeps Me Growing
In July 1974, a ten-year-old boy playing putt-putt golf near Annapolis, Maryland, observed a former vice-president swinging away at the adjacent driving range. The young boy asked Spiro Agnew for his autograph. As he signed the back of my scorecard, Mr. Agnew…
Resident Spotlight: Dr. Gustavus Garnett Roy
Born in Virginia in 1836, Gustavus Roy grew up planning to practice medicine like his father. He graduated from the prestigious Richmond College and the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. When the Civil War began in 1861, Dr. Roy joined…
An Update on the Oakland Bell Tower Rehabilitation
It’s hard to believe but we’ve reached the halfway point in the rehabilitation of the Oakland Bell Tower thanks to our excellent team including J.M. Wilkerson Construction and Smith Dalia Architects. Things are starting to take shape! The most notable…
In the Heat of the Summer: Bananas at Oakland
We are often asked about the exotic-looking plants included in several of the plantings at Oakland. Are they hardy? Are they appropriate for a historic garden? The answers are yes and yes. In fact, bananas are one of the few…
Governors of Oakland: John Brown Gordon
Oakland Cemetery is home to many important mayors, celebrities, and public officials. Among these individuals are six governors who today reside inside its hallowed grounds. This blog series will explore these six men: their successes, their failures, and their impact…
Capturing the Spirit of Oakland VIP Night 2022: What to Expect
Thinking about attending the Capturing the Spirit of Oakland VIP Night on Monday, October 24, but don’t know what to expect? Here are the top five reasons to choose this upgraded experience for your favorite October event in Atlanta: 1.…
Learning about Juneteenth
The 1863 signing of the Emancipation Proclamation established freedom for those men, women, and children held in bondage in the Confederate states. But, in reality, the proclamation didn’t instantly free any enslaved people. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon…
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Outdoors
