"What's this park all about?Oakland Cemetery, a 48-acre public park, is the final resting place for more than 70,000 souls and one of the city’s oldest public parks. Established in 1850 with just six acres near downtown, it has grown over the years and now includes miles of walking trails spread among the headstones, decorative sculptures, and mausoleums. Some of the most popular graves here include "Gone With the Wind" author Margaret Mitchell, golfer Bobby Jones (co-founder of the Masters Tournament and the first golfer to win golf’s Grand Slam), Maynard Jackson (Atlanta’s first African-American mayor, and for whom Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is named), and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Julia Collier Harris. Far from being spooky—during the day, at least, since normal hours are dawn to dusk—many locals use this dog-friendly green space as their local park. It's also free to visit. What are some of the highlights among the cemetery's features?If you've seen the noteworthy graves you came for, another picturesque spot is Bell Tower Ridge, which stretches in front of the historic Bell Tower, built in 1899. Many of the most ornate mausoleums are in the area, and flowers bloom here in spring. Another picturesque spot is the Richards Mausoleum, constructed in 1888 by New York–based architect H.Q. French. The church-like Gothic architecture, complete with gargoyles, makes it a popular spot for outdoor weddings. How easy is it to get around?The Historic Oakland Foundation does a great job of maintaining the rambling grounds and making them easy to navigate. More than a dozen guided tours—including some by topic, like the art and architecture of death, Victorian symbolism, and Civil War—make it easy to deep-dive into the cemetery’s history and quirks. They're offered on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. For those with mobility issues, the park’s paths, though well cared for, can present a challenge, thanks to brick gutters that date back more than 100 years. If you’re concerned but don’t want to miss a thing, spring for a private golf cart tour ($60 for up to five people), which is how former President Jimmy Carter once chose to see the grounds. For a self-guided jaunt, either download the free map from the website or purchase a detailed map—complete with history and interesting tidbits—for $5 at the visitors' center. If we're a bit short on time, how can we best strategize our visit?If you’re short on time, organize your visit based on your area of interest. Dying to see Margaret Mitchell’s grave? Find it on the map ahead of time and make a beeline. Those on a Civil Rights pilgrimage to Atlanta won’t want to miss the African-American section, which underwent a recent restoration. If you don’t have a specific agenda, enter through the grand main gate and you’ll find yourself in the original six-acre area, the oldest in the park. Meander around to discover Atlanta skyline views, age-old oak and magnolia trees, and historic architecture." - Jennifer Bradley Franklin
