Historic Oakland Foundation Officially Opens New Visitor Center
Photo by Marion Hegedus
On April 3, 2025, Historic Oakland Foundation officially opened the new Visitor Center, located at 374 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr SE. This milestone marks a significant step in enhancing the accessibility and experience for guests visiting one of Atlanta’s most cherished historic sites. Planning for the Visitor Center began in 2007, with construction breaking ground in 2023. The facility, designed by Smith Dalia Architects, features a spacious atrium, store, and courtyard garden for visitors to enjoy, in addition to staff offices and a versatile event space.
The ribbon cutting ceremony drew a crowd of more than 200 attendees, among them longtime Oakland supporters, board members, volunteers, and government officials including Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Justin Cutler, and former First Lady of Atlanta Valerie Jackson.
Photo by Marion Hegedus
Historic Oakland Foundation President & CEO Richard Harker, who has been involved with the project since 2018, opened the ceremony with heartfelt thanks to the many individuals and organizations that made the Visitor Center possible. He recognized the contributions of partners, donors, volunteers, staff, and supporters whose dedication helped bring the vision to life.
Photos by Marion Hegedus
Mayor Dickens thanked the Historic Oakland Foundation for their work preserving the space in a way that honors Atlanta’s past while embracing its future. “This place holds the stories of so many people who built this city, from our first African American Mayor Maynard Jackson, to trailblazers and pioneers, and everyday Atlantans who have helped to shape our community,” he reflected.
“We’ve committed to preserving Atlanta’s history. With this new Visitor Center, we’re making sure that Oakland remains accessible to everyone, and that the Historic Oakland Foundation can continue to serve Atlanta in even bigger ways than they already have served this city.” He emphasized the project as a model for collaboration and public-private partnerships in Atlanta, stating, “This is one of the greatest group projects that I can talk about. It brought together the Historic Oakland Foundation, our Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation, our economic development authority Invest Atlanta, as well as our private partners. This center proves that we can come together and do amazing things,” said Mayor Dickens.
Additional speakers, including Atlanta Parks and Recreation Commissioner Justin Cutler, Youth Landscape & Hardscape Team participant Melvin Bray, Invest Atlanta President & CEO Dr. Eloisa Klementich, Historic Oakland Foundation Board Chair Kavin Manickaraj, and Senior Rabbi Peter Berg, each highlighted different aspects of Oakland’s significance to the community—its history, its green space, and its role as a place of learning, remembrance, and connection.
Photo by Marion Hegedus
Historic Oakland Foundation’s new Visitor Center provides a welcoming space for guests to orient themselves before or after exploring Oakland Cemetery. Visitors can relax in the garden courtyard, meet for tours and events, and browse the Oakland Store, where they can find a curated selection of books, resources, and unique items celebrating Atlanta’s history. On the second floor, a versatile event and learning space offers striking views overlooking the cemetery, creating a unique setting for meetings, private events, and educational programs. A standout feature of the Visitor Center atrium is a vibrant mural depicting the life cycle of an oak tree by Atlanta-based artist Sanithna Phansavanh.
Opening just in time for an exciting season of Spring programming, the Visitor Center will welcome guests for upcoming events such as the Spring to Life Family Festival, Spring Plant Sale, Run Like Hell 5k, and illumine.
Historic Oakland Foundation is grateful for your support and looks forward to welcoming you to our Visitor Center to experience all Oakland has to offer!
View the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and full speeches
Video by Steve Bransford
