Early Friday morning, May 27, 2022, unknown individuals vandalized items in the Civil War section at historic Oakland Cemetery, including the Obelisk. This is not the first time vandalism has taken place in the Civil War section of the cemetery.…
For as long as it has been dangerous, lead has also been incredibly useful. Some historians refer to it as the ancient equivalent of plastic: impossible to live without, but also not that healthy for us. Lead was a popular…
In restoring Oakland Cemetery, we uncover more than just historic materials. We uncover the stories of those that made up Atlanta—the grand and the humble alike. Repairing the headstone In February 2022, Angeline Malone’s headstone was accidentally damaged during a…
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…
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…
As the weather begins to cool off this Fall, the Preservation, Restoration, and Operations (PRO) team is transitioning to a different season of preservation work. During extreme weather, either very hot or very cold, we abstain from using mortars. That…
The handmade bricks of Oakland’s many walkways were first installed by Atlanta Cemetery grounds crews a hundred and twenty years ago. In the decades since, humans and nature had left their mark, and the once-smooth walkways had become harder to…
The current restoration of East Hill is one of the largest undertakings in Historic Oakland Foundation's forty-five years. While most of the work is similar to what we have done in sections like Jewish Hill and the Original Six Acres,…
Oakland Cemetery is known for its beautiful and elaborate granite and marble monuments. They stand out against the landscape as grand tributes to the dead. But not all headstones at Oakland are made from natural stone. Some are composed of…
Historic Oakland Foundation's preservation, restoration, and operations (PRO) team is conducting more family lot improvements than ever these days. These family-funded projects are a crucial part of the Foundation's mission to restore, preserve, enhance, and share at Oakland Cemetery. When…