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…

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 the popular architecture of the day, such as Egyptian and Gothic Revival. New money meant bigger and bolder memorials…

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.”…

Join us as we explore some of the fascinating epitaphs that grace the monuments of Oakland. How would you like to be remembered? Victorians gave considerable thought to this concept. An epitaph is described as “a statement commemorating or epitomizing a deceased person.” Join us as we explore some of the fascinating epitaphs that grace…

Discover 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…

Learn 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…

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…

Come hear the stories of military veterans who reside at Oakland or those with connections to Oakland. You'll be introduced to veterans from the Mexican American War to the Korean War, both men and women. These individuals and their service help tell the history of the U.S.A. and our nation's relationship to the world.  This…