Oakland Cemetery

Discover the stories of prodigies, bandmasters, a dance club DJ, a beloved family songbird, and more on this musically-inclined tour! From spiritual songwriters to country legends, Oakland Cemetery’s musical roots are deep and far-reaching. This tour spotlights noted Atlanta musicians buried here and examines how some of the cemetery’s architecture tunes into musical themes. Discover…

Celebrate the start of summer with Oakland Cemetery’s popular guided walking tour, Malts & Vaults: Where Beer Meets History!Oakland Cemetery’s popular guided walking tour, Malts & Vaults: Where Beer Meets History, returns. Grab a group of friends and head to Oakland for this hour-long walking tour of Atlanta’s brewing history. Tours start at the Main…

Discover how architectural and design choices made during life created a lasting and eternal legacy for many Oakland residents. People have sought to honor the memory of departed loved ones since ancient times, but the 19th century ushered in a new era of funerary art. Innovative building materials came available and styles changed to reflect…

From 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…

This guided walking tour explores the history, lives, and labors of Atlanta’s African American women. Historically, many African American women worked as maids, child nurses, cooks, and laundresses—all while managing their own households. As educational opportunities became available following the Civil War and emancipation, African American women aspired to occupations beyond domestic service. Many sought…

Join us as we highlight the physicians and dentists who provided care to Atlanta. Oakland MD: Discovering Oakland's Healthcare Pioneers highlights the physicians and dentists who provided care to Atlanta's citizens from the city's earliest days to its emergence as a center for medical excellence. This tour starts at the Front Gate (main entrance at…

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…

From angels to anchors, learn all about grave symbols and death culture during this 75-minute guided tour of Oakland Cemetery! The Victorians were obsessed with death. From rules on mourning outfits to post-mortem photography, the Victorians had elaborate rituals and traditions to grieve and process death. The ornamentation and symbols found in cemeteries reflect this…

This tour visits the gravesites of Margaret Mitchell, Mitchell family members, and pioneers who inspired Gone with the Wind characters. Margaret Mitchell didn’t know how much of an impact she would have on popular culture when her Civil War novel, Gone With the Wind, was published in 1936. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel sold more than…

Visit 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…