Name: Sights, Symbols, and Stories Overview Tour
Start: 2023-10-01T10:00:00-04:00
End: 2023-10-01T23:30:00-04:00
Location: Oakland Cemetery

Living History Capital Campaign

Your gift will help us restore this fragile piece of Atlanta’s history faster than ever before and expand our ability to share Oakland with all Atlantans.

Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta’s first public greenspace, captures the true nature, history, and spirit of our city.

The preservation and perpetuation of Oakland have never been more important than it is today. The neighborhoods surrounding Oakland are enjoying a renaissance, developing on a scale unseen since the turn of the last century. As a result, the Cemetery’s visitation has increased, and its visibility has grown.

Historic Oakland Foundation has reached capacity. Without additional resources—staffing, space, and funding—restoration will continue at a pace at which the Cemetery might never be fully restored, and this fragile piece of Atlanta’s historic fabric will be lost to the ravages of time.

The Living History Capital Campaign will triple the rate of investment in the Cemetery over the next three years and develop facilities to expand the Foundation’s ability to share this unique asset with the whole city, commemorating its past and ensuring its future.

For further information on this project, including how your family’s name can live on at Oakland through a special recognition opportunity, please contact Executive Director Richard Harker at rharker@oaklandcemetery.com.

Our Goal: $14,000,000

Make a Donation

Support the Living History Campaign while Leaving a Lasting Legacy at Oakland

Purchase a personalized brick and help pave the way for a dramatically improved Cemetery that still belongs to all of us—residents and visitors alike.

Your brick will be installed on the public plaza outside the main entrance of the new Oakland Cemetery Visitor Center where it will become a permanent part of Oakland’s history. Memorialize a loved one, honor a friend, or simply acknowledge your family’s valued support of Historic Oakland Foundation.

Each 4″x8″ brick will allow for three lines of text with up to 16 characters per line. 4″x8″ Bricks are $250 each or two for $450.
Each 8″x8″ brick will allow for up to five lines of text with up to 16 characters per line. 8″x8″ Bricks are $450.

Your purchase is partially tax-deductible.

Purchase your brick

For more information, please contact Richard Harker at rharker@oaklandcemetery.com.

Capital Campaign Projects

A New Visitor Center outside Oakland’s Gate

A new Visitor Center outside the gates will provide spaces for enhanced educational and public programming.

Rehabilitate Oakland’s Iconic 1899 Bell Tower

The Foundation completed its rehabilitation of the 1899 Oakland Bell Tower in November 2022, transforming it into a flexible event and meeting space.

Restore and Preserve Oakland’s East Hill

With campaign support, Historic Oakland Foundation will complete the restoration of the largest contiguous area of Oakland Cemetery to date.

OaklandCemeteryBellTower_2023_exterior web

Capital Campaign Leadership

Valerie Jackson
Campaign Co-Chair
Former First Lady of Atlanta

May B. Hollis
Campaign Co-Chair
Community Volunteer

Tom Aderhold, Aderhold Properties; Doug Aldridge, Wells Fargo; Norman Asher, Rich’s/Macy’s (Retired); Donna G. Barwick, Attorney; Rabbi Peter Berg, The Temple; Sara Chapman, The Westminster Schools; George Dusenbury, Trust for Public Land; Mary Ellen Imlay, The Imlay Foundation; Robert T. Jones IV, Psychologist; Kelly Jordan, Community Volunteer; Mark B. Riley, Urban Realty Partners; The Honorable Leah Ward Sears, Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP; S. Zachry Young, Wesleyan School (Retired)