Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Day 8: Oakland Cemetery

We've been talking about walking around the Oakland Cemetery for awhile now, so we finally headed over to check it out tonight.  What an amazing experience!  An hour and a half is definitely not enough time to explore.  (The gates are closed at 8:00 pm nightly, so it didn't leave much time after work).  I think we'll definitely go back on a weekend so we can walk around all day.

In the mid 1800's it was simply known as Atlanta or City Cemetery.  In 1872, it was renamed Oakland Cemetery because of all the Oak trees in the area.  (FYI:  Oakland Cemetery is also an Arborguard client!)  Soldiers (both Confederate and Union) were buried here during the war.  The cemetery was separated into white and black burial plots, as well as Christian and Jewish.  Many Atlanta mayors and a few governors are buried in the cemetery, as well as a few famous names.

Some of the headstones are so old you can't even make out the names or dates!  Many of the mausoleums are the size of a small house, and very elaborate inside and out.  It's a really unique and peaceful experience to explore the Cemetery, and we can't wait to go back!  Here's the website if you want to know more.  www.oaklandcemetery.com

Afterwards, we headed over to Tin Lizzy's Cantina.  It's walking distance and has an upper level patio where you can see the cemetery from above.  Their tacos and margaritas are delicious!  Night number 8 was a great one!


This area was especially beautiful while the sun was setting.


From the outside, this stained glass looked okay... 


Until you saw the inside of the mausoleum!

Grave of Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind


People leave golf balls for Bobby Jones


Beautiful, elaborate stone work


Confederate Soldiers











Right before I photographed this mausoleum stained glass, our camera stopped working briefly.  I'm not sure this family was feeling camera ready...


Oldest Jewish burial ground in Atlanta


Strawberry Margarita to cool down at Tin Lizzy's!

1 comment:

  1. oh, wow. i was really excited about this one. you know this is my old stomping grounds when i lived in atlanta. i love this area of the city, although i have never been to oakland, i have always stared at it longingly, and now, i'm so far away. and tin lizzy's- YUM!!!!

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