ATLANTA — Oakland Cemetery dates to 1850, making it one of the oldest tracts of land in Atlanta.
Originally a six-acre tract of land, the cemetery grew to 48 acres over the years; more than 70,000 people are believed to be buried in the cemetery. Today, it includes several “sections,” including the original section, the Jewish section, the Black Section and the Confederate section.
Experts are quick to note that the cemetery shows how the city’s culture has changed over the years. Among the famous Atlantans buried in Oakland Cemetery are:
— Martha Lumpkin Compton: The namesake of the city when it was known as Marthasville
— Maynard Jackson: The first black mayor of Atlanta
— Margaret Mitchell: Author of “Gone with the Wind.”
— Bobby Jones: World famous golfer; visitors usually leave behind golfing paraphernalia — mainly golf balls — after visiting his grave
— Joseph E. Brown: Governor of Georgia during the Civil War
— William A. Fuller: The conductor on the General the morning of April 12, 1862. He successfully chased union spies who stole a locomotive and planned to destroy the Western & Atlantic Railroad between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tenn., as part of what is today known as The Great Locomotive Chase.
— Jeff Cain: The engineer of the General the morning of April 12, 1862. He joined Fuller for a portion of the raid.
Also noteworthy, Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood on July 22, 1864, watched the Battle of Atlanta from the grounds. A marker denotes the location.