September 2021
Sights, Symbols, and Stories Overview Tour 9/22
Explore the history, gardens, and funerary art of Oakland Cemetery with a 90-minute guided walking tour! Discover the history, the Victorian gardens, and the art and architecture that give Oakland its distinctive character. Oakland is an outdoor museum of Atlanta’s history with over 70,000 residents. Meet the trailblazers, builders, creators, and characters who call Oakland home. Join one of our knowledgeable and entertaining guides for a 90-minute walking tour through Atlanta’s past and present. Tours meet outside of the Bell…
Find out more »
Fall Plant Sale
Shop a great selection of interesting and hard-to-find plants at Historic Oakland Foundation’s Fall Plant Sale! The sale will take place at Oakland Cemetery’s Beaumont Allen Greenhouse on Saturday, September 25 with a special members-only presale on September 24. ReservationsReserve Your SpotIn order to maintain a safe number of patrons shopping at any given time and to avoid customers having to wait in long lines, we have implemented a ticketing system to reserve a time slot. The reservation time…
Find out more »Sights, Symbols, and Stories Overview Tour 9/25
Explore the history, gardens, and funerary art of Oakland Cemetery with a 90-minute guided walking tour! Discover the history, the Victorian gardens, and the art and architecture that give Oakland its distinctive character. Oakland is an outdoor museum of Atlanta’s history with over 70,000 residents. Meet the trailblazers, builders, creators, and characters who call Oakland home. Join one of our knowledgeable and entertaining guides for a 90-minute walking tour through Atlanta’s past and present. Tours meet outside of the Bell…
Find out more »Oakland and the Civil War
This tour explores the lives of soldiers who fought, civilians who survived, and military leaders in the nation’s bloodiest conflict. Stand at the site where General Hood watched the Battle of Atlanta. Hear the story of the Great Locomotive Chase and Andrew’s Raiders. See the Lion of Atlanta as it lies wounded and dying over unknown soldiers from nearby battlefields and hospitals, and the Confederate Obelisk, at one time the tallest structure in Atlanta. This tour explores the lives of…
Find out more »Sights, Symbols, and Stories Overview Tour
Explore the history, gardens, and funerary art of Oakland Cemetery with a 90-minute guided walking tour! Discover the history, the Victorian gardens, and the art and architecture that give Oakland its distinctive character. Oakland is an outdoor museum of Atlanta’s history with over 70,000 residents. Meet the trailblazers, builders, creators, and characters who call Oakland home. Join one of our knowledgeable and entertaining guides for a 90-minute walking tour through Atlanta’s past and present. Tours meet outside of the Bell…
Find out more »
Sunday in the Park ft. Tunes from the Tombs
Sunday in the Park returns for its 43rd year on Sunday, September 26, celebrating our community and all things Oakland. This year’s event also hosts our annual Tunes from the Tombs music festival! Enjoy the sunset over the Atlanta skyline as the music flows from Oakland’s North Public Grounds. Headlining this year’s Tunes from the Tombs music festival are The Original Wailers and Jupiter Coyote. You'll also enjoy pop-up performances throughout the day. Just as the Victorians brought blankets and…
Find out more »Sights, Symbols, and Stories Overview Tour
Explore the history, gardens, and funerary art of Oakland Cemetery with a 90-minute guided walking tour! Discover the history, the Victorian gardens, and the art and architecture that give Oakland its distinctive character. Oakland is an outdoor museum of Atlanta’s history with over 70,000 residents. Meet the trailblazers, builders, creators, and characters who call Oakland home. Join one of our knowledgeable and entertaining guides for a 90-minute walking tour through Atlanta’s past and present. Tours meet outside of the Bell…
Find out more »October 2021
Haunted Hunt Scavenger Hunt
Gather a small group of friends or family for a day of spooky sleuthing on this self-guided scavenger hunt throughout historic Oakland Cemetery! From October 1-31, purchase your printable Haunted Hunt packet online (one per team), download, print, and follow all-new cryptic clues to solve riddles. No reservations are required to participate.Choose from three different packets, organized by degree of cemetery riddle difficulty: Easy: Kid-friendly riddles and perfect for families (expected hunt time:1 hour) Medium: Challenging, but not impossible to solve, riddles…
Find out more »We Shall Overcome: African American Stories from Civil War to Civil Rights
This 75-minute guided tour explores the lives and accomplishments of outstanding and ordinary African Americans in Atlanta. “We Shall Overcome” became the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, but the origin of the song dates back to antebellum days and a spiritual sung by enslaved people, “No More Auction Block for Me.” This tour explores the lives and accomplishments of outstanding and ordinary African Americans who fought to overcome the effects of slavery and discrimination to help…
Find out more »Fifty Ways to Die
From disease outbreaks to battlefield wounds to murders in broad daylight, 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 Atlanta’s humid climate and swampy land. While advances in medicine were made, like the discovery of germ theory and anesthesia, doctors also…
Find out more »14th Annual Run Like Hell 5K
Register now for Historic Oakland Foundation for the 14th annual Run Like Hell (live and virtual) 5K! Register Now The largest cemetery run in the country, Run Like Hell is one of Atlanta’s favorite neighborhood 5K fundraisers, with all proceeds going to the restoration and preservation of Historic Oakland Cemetery. This year's race returns with both a live and a virtual format, with an extended run to allow for physical distancing and expanded access. In-Person 5K The in-person portion…
Find out more »Bell Tower Boutique: A Pop-Up Shop
The Museum Store at historic Oakland Cemetery is pleased to partner with local artisans for our Fall Bell Tower Boutique! Support local craftspeople and artists by joining us on Saturday, October 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Oakland's Bell Tower. Browse a curated selection of handcrafted goods specially chosen for this exclusive pop-up event. From handmade jewelry to botanical fiberworks, you're sure to find that perfect item for yourself or someone else! Participating artists include: Custom Cutlery by…
Find out more »Pumpkin Patch at Oakland Cemetery
We invite you to join us for our second annual Pumpkin Patch at Oakland Cemetery Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10 from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM This family-friendly, low-contact sale will feature a variety of pumpkins perfect for your fall and Halloween decor, ranging from large carvers to decorative and unique gourds. Plus, shop curated fall and Halloween wares at our Museum Store Pop-up Shop. Photo Opportunities Bring the family for a fantastic photo opportunity. Oakland’s Richards Mausoleum,…
Find out more »Crime Through Time
Crimes of passion, embezzlement scandals, premeditated murders, and cons that exposed city-wide corruption – Oakland Cemetery holds the history of crimes that rocked the city of Atlanta. Crime Through Time explores our understanding of crime, criminals, and justice. This tour starts outside of the Bell Tower Building (at the Visitors Center and Museum Shop) at 10:30 AM. Please arrive a few minutes early to check in with the volunteer at the front desk. Spaces are extremely limited, so we recommend…
Find out more »Pumpkin Patch at Oakland Cemetery
We invite you to join us for our second annual Pumpkin Patch at Oakland Cemetery Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10 from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM This family-friendly, low-contact sale will feature a variety of pumpkins perfect for your fall and Halloween decor, ranging from large carvers to decorative and unique gourds. Plus, shop curated fall and Halloween wares at our Museum Store Pop-up Shop. Photo Opportunities Bring the family for a fantastic photo opportunity. Oakland’s Richards Mausoleum,…
Find out more »Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween Tours
Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween tours are a favorite autumn tradition in Atlanta, selling out every year in July. The event returns for its 15th year bigger and better than ever, offering three weekends of history and delight from October 14 through October 31. Designed to enlighten rather than frighten, Capturing the Spirit of Oakland tours bring to life the stories of some of the cemetery’s notable and notorious residents and allow visitors to experience Oakland Cemetery after dark.…
Find out more »