Special Topic Tour
We Shall Overcome: African American Stories from Civil War to Civil Rights
Oakland Cemetery 248 Oakland Avenue Southeast, Atlanta, GA, United StatesThis 75-minute guided tour explores the lives and accomplishments of outstanding and ordinary African Americans in Atlanta. Join Historic Oakland Foundation as we celebrate Black History Month with a series of free tours highlighting Black history at Oakland Cemetery. “We Shall Overcome” became the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, but the…
History, Mystery, and Mayhem
Oakland Cemetery 248 Oakland Avenue Southeast, Atlanta, GA, United StatesDiscover stories that defy explanation during this 75-minute guided tour of Oakland Cemetery!With more than 70,000 souls interred in its hallowed grounds, it’s no mystery that Oakland Cemetery has its share of the surreal. Hear the stories that defy explanation, from mysterious murders to tragic events that have passed into local legend.This tour starts at…
The Women of Oakland
Oakland Cemetery 248 Oakland Avenue Southeast, Atlanta, GA, United StatesThis 75-minute tour challenges the myth of Southern womanhood by uncovering the true social and personal histories of Atlanta’s women.Early Atlanta might have been a man’s world, but this city was built with the labor of women. From writers and domestic servants to reformers and mothers, Oakland Cemetery is home to thousands of women. Some…
Cemeteries Rock! Geology Walk (Atlanta Science Festival)
Cemeteries are more than just resting places for the dead. They are excellent places to study local geology! Join us for a special walking tour of Oakland Cemetery where we explore Georgia Geology by studying the unique headstones throughout the grounds. This free event is part of the 2024 Atlanta Science Festival. Learn more and…
The Jewish Grounds of Oakland
Oakland Cemetery 248 Oakland Avenue Southeast, Atlanta, GA, United StatesVisit Oakland's three Jewish burial sections and learn about Atlanta Jewish history during this 75-minute guided tour!Oakland Cemetery is home to three Jewish burial sections, including the second oldest Jewish burial ground in Georgia. This tour examines notable residents, Jewish burial customs, and symbolism found throughout these grounds. Hear stories of adversity and triumph as…
Black Magnolias
Oakland Cemetery 248 Oakland Avenue Southeast, Atlanta, GA, United StatesThis guided walking tour explores the history, lives, and labors of Atlanta’s African American women. Join Historic Oakland Foundation as we celebrate Black History Month with a series of free tours highlighting Black history at Oakland Cemetery. Historically, many African American women worked as maids, child nurses, cooks, and laundresses—all while managing their own households.…
Fear and Accusation: The Leo Frank Story
Oakland Cemetery 248 Oakland Avenue Southeast, Atlanta, GA, United StatesLearn how several Oakland residents were involved in this Atlanta tragedy during this 75-minute guided tour. This tour begins and ends with a murder. In the early hours of April 27, 1913, the body of 13-year-old Mary Phagan was discovered in the basement of Atlanta’s National Pencil Factory. Leo Frank, the factory superintendent and a…
Cemeteries Rock! Geology Walk (Atlanta Science Festival)
Cemeteries are more than just resting places for the dead. They are excellent places to study local geology! Join us for a special walking tour of Oakland Cemetery where we explore Georgia Geology by studying the unique headstones throughout the grounds. This free event is part of the 2024 Atlanta Science Festival. Learn more and…
Spring Tree Walk
Oakland Cemetery 248 Oakland Avenue Southeast, Atlanta, GA, United StatesStroll with us through Oakland’s amazing arboretum and learn from knowledgeable guides about some of our favorite trees!Did you know that Oakland is home to more than 1,600 trees, from majestic oaks to mighty magnolias, to demure crape myrtles and dogwoods? Oakland’s trees feed and shelter wildlife, help reduce air pollution and provide welcome shade…
Fifty Ways to Die
Oakland Cemetery 248 Oakland Avenue Southeast, Atlanta, GA, United StatesFrom disease outbreaks to battlefield wounds to murders, this tour traces the myriad ways Oakland residents died in the 19th century. Early Atlanta was not a sleepy southern community – it had more in common with the Wild West. Life in this railroad town often ended in violence or tragedy. Diseases spread rapidly thanks to…