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Atlanta Cemetery Essay

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Cemeteries intrigue me, and Oakland is no exception to this interest. After years of constant bypassing the cemetery in route to school, I first decided to visit around September of my junior year, and explored the entire cemetery for the next two days. I was immediately infatuated, and have returned 5 more times since then. Throughout my tour I was able to view the beautiful statues, weathered graves, and memorial that held a surplus of information about the social statuses of these individuals, their struggles, and ancestry.

Oakland Cemetery is a definite attraction for people with historical interest, the rich history throughout Oakland allows for a nostalgic feel. Stories of the individual, or families buried there are symbolized by their …show more content…

The cemetery originally sat on 6 acres that was purchased by Atlanta’s founding fathers in order to accommodate the bustling metropolis that had quickly accumulated a population of 2,500, but by 1872 grew to 48 acres, due to the Civil War’s mortality rate. Oakland, playing a significant role in the Civil War, such as the hanging and of union operatives, headquarters of Confederate commander John B. Hood during the Battle of Atlanta, which was fought east of the …show more content…

Therefore, the City Council allowed for the removal of African American bodies, and remains to be reburied in Oakland’s coloured pauper grounds. The old plots were then resold to whites, until 1963, when the City of Atlanta banned segregation public facilities. As of today, there are more than 12,000 African Americans buried in Oakland Cemetery, however, most of the early inhabitants are unknown, due to the utilization of nature as markers, such as trees, shrubs, and wooden crosses that were not able to withstand the harsh environmental changes over

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