One of the attractions that came up in Googling what to do in Atlanta (that we hadn’t already done) was the Oakland Cemetery. Although some may find it morbid, I find cemeteries to be good places for quiet walks and sometimes architecturally interesting and always good for a bit of local history.
The Oakland Cemetery was established in 1850 when the city of Atlanta purchased 6 acres of plantation farmland on the edge of town for a municipal cemetery. By 1867, the 6 acres had grown to 48 acres. Today, it is the permanent home to more than 70,000 people of all distinctions.
The cemetery is located near the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District and about 2.9 miles from where we are staying. It was about a 90 minute walk to the cemetery through a few new areas of town and on a lovely 60+ degree day.
who was the son of “Uncle Remus” author Joel Chandler Harris. Julia and Julian also owned the Columbus Enquirer-Sun
that won the 1926 Pulitzer Prize for journalism.
a receiving vault for caskets and an office for the Sexton,
who oversaw the cemetery.
It currently houses the Visitors Center.
author of Gone with the Wind,
and her husband John Robert Marsh.
for Mayor Maynard Holbrook Jackson (1938-2003),
Atlanta’s first African American mayor.
He served 3 terms and was instrumental
in bringing the 1996 Olympics to Atlanta
and expanding the airport, which now bears his name.
considered the greatest amateur golfer of all time.
In 1930, after winning golf’s Grand Slam, he retired.
He co-designed Augusta National golf course.
one of the bestselling musicians of all time.
He had 24 number 1 hits and 3 Grammy awards.
The former mill is now a residential community in Cabbagetown (see below).
Last night, we learned that former President Jimmy Carter, from Plains, Georgia, had passed away at age 100. The last time we housesat in Atlanta, we visited the Carter Center and Presidential Museum here in Atlanta. I thought I would walk by there on my way back to the house.
after leaving the cemetery.
for Special Olympics.
to our 39th President, who was an honorable President
and even better man and humanitarian.
Peckish Travels 