Oakland Cemetery

The story

Oakland was founded as Atlanta Cemetery in 1850 on six acres southeast of the city, and it was later renamed and expanded to 48 acres. The original six acres are among the oldest historic plots of land in Atlanta. Margaret Mitchell is buried in a family plot under her married name, Marsh. Golf great Bobby Jones is here, and his grave is usually covered with golf balls. Former mayor Maynard Jackson was buried in the original six acres.

The African American section, like the neighboring potter's field, has few headstones, largely because early markers were made of wood and other materials that rotted. On March 14, 2008, a tornado that tore through downtown Atlanta did significant damage here.

Everything that was here

• 1850–present · still open

  Oakland CemeteryCemetery

  Atlanta started burying its dead on six acres southeast of town in 1850. The cemetery now covers 48 acres and holds about 6,900 Confederate burials, roughly 3,000 of them unknown.

  See the map in 1851 →

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Nearby history