Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery; a photographic journey

"Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available" (whoistheleader2) 08/24/2020 at 11:02 • Filed to: Cemetery, Graveyard

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Oakland Cemetery outside of Atlanta, Georgia is often considered to be the state’s most beautiful cemetery. While the unique grave markers often belong to notable local celebrities, political figures, and war heroes, everyone from the poorest of the poor to the richest of the rich can be found here. From famous author of Gone With The Wind Margaret Mitchell to the first black mayor of Atlanta, you never know who you’ll find here.

The iconic main entry to Oakland Cemetery blessed with the presence of my Oppo Hunt mascot

Perhaps more notable is the breathtaking variety of monuments to the deceased that crowd every corner of the cemetery, dating from the 1850s to today. It’s no wonder Atlanta’s oldest public park has been so carefully preserved, since the winding trails, beautiful oak canopy, and fascinating graves create an immersive atmosphere entirely different from that of nearby Downtown.

The cemetery has a long history of functioning as a reprieve from the city, even hosting live music events. If Piedmont Park is Atlanta’s backyard, Oakland is its garden.

One of the first things you may notice after walking through the main entrance to Oakland Cemetery is the face of Dr James Nissen staring back at you from atop his Mausoleum. He commissioned this statue so that in death he could watch visitors entering the cemetery where he would be buried.

This one crowded section of stone monuments was devoted to Jews. Many of the markers bear writing in Hebrew and religious symbols.

While most of the truly impressive monuments bear the names of Atlanta’s most rich and influential residents, people of all incomes and backgrounds are buried here. However, many graves featured wooden markers which decayed over time. An area I didn’t photograph called the Potter’s Field is almost devoid of surviving grave markers but is home to around 7500 graves.

Even with Oakland’s substantial budget for maintenance and preservation, lots of areas still need attention. For instance, this grave and its tombstone has been uprooted by a conniving tree which also took out the granite walls. They just can’t give every single grave the attention it deserves so some will have wait their turn. Preservation efforts are always ongoing but nature never stops trying to take over the burial plots.

One remarkable building on the site is the women’s rest station, now turned into a small museum. The men’s rest station on the other side of cemetery is still derelict. Public restrooms in a public park would have been considered unthinkable luxury when they were first built.

The greenhouse attached to this maintenance shed was filled with plants of all kinds.

Sadly it was closed due to COVID. This section was even more beautifully manicured than the rest of Oakland’s superb landscaping.

You know you have to be rich to have your mausoleum intricately carved to resemble a church. Not to mention the prominent corner spot.

I particularly like this shot, though it calls attention to how many grave markers have been absorbed by the landscaping.

I would highly recommend checking out Oakland if you are ever in Atlanta. It’s a beautifully landscaped historically significant park that feels entirely unlike any other cemetery I’ve ever visited.

If you want to learn more about Oakland Cemetery, their website is a fascinating place to spend a few minutes.

https://oaklandcemetery.com/about/

Just Jeepin' > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/23/2020 at 19:23

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Shared. Very nice.

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/23/2020 at 19:37

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Nice post. Lived in Atlanta metro for  29 years and never thought to visit there.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > John Norris (AngryDrifter) 08/23/2020 at 20:36

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You definitely should have. It’s free and absolutely beautiful. It’s just a big garden that happens to be full of dead people ya know.

I also want to go to Westview Cemetery but that's an even longer walk from here. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Just Jeepin' 08/23/2020 at 20:37

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I was particularly proud of my photos, though it's pretty hard to take a bad photo there. 

vondon302 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/24/2020 at 11:25

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We passed a cemetery on our run thru Detroit that I had never heard of or seen before but were running short on time. It’s not as nice as this but I think I need to go back.

Especially after reading this.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > vondon302 08/24/2020 at 11:30

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I love walking through cemeteries. They are so peaceful and often contain tons of fascinating history. Oakland in particular is famous for its lavish and ornate tombstones and mausoleums. With a beautiful backdrop of winding brick paths and oaken canopy, it is absolutely serene.

10/10 would highly recommend. 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/24/2020 at 14:03

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Wow, that is a beautiful old place!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 08/24/2020 at 14:16

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Indeed. It is amazing to wander among ancient (by North American standards) tombs, mausoleums , and gravestones bearing the names of the city’s most illustrious names from years past. Oakland is famous for the strangeness and eccentricy of its graves. 

Even Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With The Wind , is buried here. If you don’t know, that novel is a defining moment in how we view our Southern heritage.

Plus, it’s literally a massive public park, Atlanta’s oldest in fact, so it’s just a fun place to visit. I’d highly recommend it if you are ever down south.

hillrat > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/24/2020 at 15:23

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Cool. I was at a cemetery a little while back and was greeted with these gems:

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > hillrat 08/24/2020 at 15:31

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First off, you don’t have to credit your photos in the comments. They’re entirely free of legal repercussions ! Yay!

The boxing glove on is cool. The others? Not so much. Tacky in life and tacky in death.

The area I live in is spoiled for beautiful historic cemeteries. But Oakland is the best of all of them. It’s 150 years of Atlanta’s finest plus a landscape to rival botanical gardens. And it’s a public park!