Historic Cemeteries in Atlanta Perfect For Learning About the City’s Past
A cemetery tour is a great way to learn history, and Atlanta has plenty of hauntingly beautiful historic cemeteries that hold the secrets to the city’s past. Take a stroll through these these top historic cemeteries in Atlanta.
I’m a huge fan of traipsing through a cemetery, whether it’s spooky season or not. Atlanta’s historic cemeteries are full of striking architecture, fascinating stories, and amazing history. They’re perfect for exploring any time of year.
Wandering through these historic cemeteries in Atlanta is a unique way to learn more about the city.
Top Historic Cemeteries in Atlanta
1. Oakland Cemetery
Historic Oakland Cemetery is Atlanta’s its best-known cemetery and its oldest public park. The 48-acre park was founded in 1850 as “Atlanta Cemetery” and is now the final resting place of many notable Atlanta figures.
Among the oak and magnolia trees, Gothic mausoleums, and treasure trove of sculpture and architecture, you’ll find the graves of famous Atlantans like Pulitzer Prize winning author Margaret Mitchell; first African American mayor of Atlanta, Maynard Jackson; golf legend Bobby Jones; and more.
Oakland Cemetery holds guided tours throughout the year to help you get to know Atlanta’s history through their famous residents. Or you can explore the cemetery on your own.
248 Oakland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
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2. Westview Cemetery
Westview Cemetery is one of the largest nonprofit cemeteries in the country and the largest cemetery in the Southeast. The cemetery was opened in 1884.
Throughout its hundreds of acres of land, you can find the graves of notable Atlanta figures like founder of Coca-Cola, Asa G. Candler; Mayor William B. Hartsfield; author of the “Uncle Remus Stories”, Joel Chandler Harris; and other well-known Southerners.
In 1943, Asa Candler started construction on the Westview Mausoleum and Abbey, which is the largest structure of its kind, containing space for 11,444 entombments.
You can use the Westview Cemetery map to take your own self-guided tour of this historic Atlanta cemetery.
1680 Westview Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
3. South-View Cemetery
South-View Cemetery in Jonesboro is an a African-American-founded cemetery dating back to 1886. Located on over 100 acres of land, it is the oldest African-American cemetery in Atlanta.
Since its inception, South-View Cemetery has had no restriction as to race, creed, or religious affiliation for those buried here, as many Southern cemeteries operating during the same period did. There are more than 70,000 people resting at South-View Cemetery, and some are well-known to Atlanta’s history.
Among these notable Atlantans are Hank Aaron, the former Major League Baseball Hall of Fame player known for breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record; Moses Amos, Georgia’s first licensed African-American pharmacist; Ludie Clay Andrews, the first African-American granted a nursing license by the state of Georgia; Grace Towns Hamilton, the first African-American woman elected to the Georgia General Assembly; and Horace A. Bohannon, a Tuskegee Airman who co-founded the Atlanta Chapter Tuskegee Airmen.
1990 Jonesboro Rd SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
4. Marietta National Cemetery
The Marietta National Cemetery, originally known as the Marietta and Atlanta National Cemetery, was established in 1866 to provide a resting place for nearly 10,000 Union soldiers from Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign.
The 23-acre property is adorned with five monumental masonry archways that originally served as the formal entrances to national cemeteries found in the South. Other monuments include a marble obelisk dedicated in honor of 20th Army Corps; the Wisconsin Monument, dedicated in 1925 to 405 men from Wisconsin who died during the Civil War; the Gold Star Mothers Monument; and the Pearl Harbor Monument.
Notable graves in the Marietta National Cemetery include John Clark, an American Revolutionary War veteran, US Congressman, and Georgia governor; General W. A. Cunningham, US Army Colonel and head football coach at the University of Georgia; Ella Lillian Wall Van Leer, an artist, architect, and women’s rights activist and known as the First Lady of Georgia Tech; and Emma Stephenson, a nurse at a Union hospital in the Civil War and a freed African-American slave.
500 Washington Ave NE, Marietta, GA 30060
5. Decatur Cemetery
Decatur Cemetery dates back to 1823, making it one of the oldest burial grounds in the metro-Atlanta area. This historic cemetery covers 54 acres.
The historic African-American section is the burial site for many in Decatur’s thriving black community. The cemetery also has a monument standing over a field where numerous orphans are buried.
Among the notable residents at the Decatur Cemetery is Dr. Thomas Holley Chivers, who abandoned his medical training for poetry and who Edgar Allen Poe said was “one of the best and one of the worst poets in America.”
Visitors can pick up a walking tour brochure at the cemetery office or at City Hall to create their own self-guided walking tour. The brochure provides a map of the cemetery with 40 of the most interesting sites in the graveyard. And if you want to learn about the ghosts residing here, you can take the Decatur Ghost Tour.
229 Bell St, Decatur, GA 30030
6. Utoy Cemetery
Utoy Cemetery is one of the oldest historic cemeteries within the Atlanta city limits. This 4-acre cemetery has tombstones dating back to 1816, making it one of the oldest properties to survive from the earliest period of European American settlement in the Fulton County area.
The adjacent Utoy Church was used as a military field hospital during the Battle of Utoy Creek and treated both Union and Confederate soldiers.
The residents of Utoy Cemetery range from African American slaves to Revolutionary War veterans to Atlanta’s first physician. There are American Revolutionary War, French and Indian War, Civil War, War of 1812, World War II, Spanish-American War, and Vietnam War veterans buried at this cemetery.
1465 Cahaba Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30311
7. Greenwood Cemetery
Greenwood Cemetery’s first burial dates back to 1907. This historic cemetery is notable for its large Jewish section, its Chinese section, and its Greek section. The cemetery was desegregated in 1987 when CR Jones, Atlanta’s first black council member, was buried there. Greenwood is also the final resting place of S. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A.
One particularly unusual thing found at this cemetery is a controversial memorial. A stone was placed in the cemetery with the inscription, “Here rest four bars of human soap, the last earthly remains of Jewish victims of the Holocaust.” A Jewish soldier who helped liberate a concentration camp during WWII is said to have found the soap, and in 1970 his wife had the bars of soap buried after discovering them in her basement. However, there is dispute over whether the Nazis actually made soap from victims and if these bars of soap are real.
The cemetery also holds a Holocaust Memorial, Memorial to the Six Million, a granite monument topped by six torches, each representing 1 million Jews killed in concentration camps. It was the first Holocaust memorial constructed in Georgia and is one of the largest and most substantial memorial to victims of the Holocaust in the state.
1173 Cascade Cir SW, Atlanta, GA 30311
8. Harmony Grove Cemetery
The tiny Harmony Grove Cemetery in Buckhead sits on a small rise at the southwest corner of West Paces Ferry Road and Chatham Road. It encompasses less than one acre and contains 171 graves dating back to 1870.
Only 40 of the graves here are marked with traditional inscribed headstones. The first recorded burial in the cemetery in 1870 belongs to the infant son of the Smiths who owned land near the cemetery. The last burial at this cemetery took place in 1982.
Probably the most surprising notable residents of this tiny cemetery are the great-grandparents of actress Julia Roberts.
214 W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
9. Crestlawn Cemetery
Crestlawn Cemetery, or Crest Lawn Memorial Park, has been a public burial place since 1916. This 145-acre park with rolling hills, blooming trees, shrubbery, and seasonal flowers provides a tranquil resting place. Graves at this cemetery have breathtaking views of the Atlanta skyline, too.
The site of this cemetery served as a brief focal point during the Civil War at the Battle of Atlanta. The park features designated sites with historical markers to help you learn more about its Civil War history.
2000 Marietta Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
10. Lawrenceville Historic Cemetery
Located just a few blocks from the Downtown Lawrenceville square, the Lawrenceville HIstoric Cemetery is the final resting place of Gwinnett County founders William Maltbie and Elisha Winn, as well as Lawrenceville’s first mayor, John Clay Smith.
The historic cemetery is the resting place of Revolutionary War veteran Nathan Spence, and eight graves have been identified as Confederate soldiers (though only three have tombstones). There are two African-Americans with inscribed gave markers, but no birth or death dates, and many unmarked graves of former slaves, who have not yet been identified.
E Crogan St, Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Atlanta Cemeteries Map
Ready to explore Atlanta’s historic cemeteries? Use the map below to help plan out your cemetery stroll.
I hope these cemeteries help you develop an appreciation for Atlanta’s rich history and culture!
Save on Atlanta’s Top Attractions
Want to save big on Atlanta’s top attractions? with the Atlanta CityPASS, you can save up to 46% on the cost of entrance tickets to 5 top Atlanta museums and attractions!
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Top Atlanta Tours
A guided tour is always a good way to get to know a city! Check out these top Atlanta tours.
- 90-Minute Guided Sightseeing Tour by E-Car
- Atlanta’s Black History and Civil Rights Tour
- Midtown Atlanta Food & Cocktail Tour
Where to Stay in Atlanta
Find the perfect place to rest your head on your Atlanta vacation!
- My Favorite Stay: Westin Peachtree Plaza
- Top Hotel: The Candler Hotel
- Great Value: Hampton Inn & Suites Perimeter Dunwoody
- Unique Stay: Stonehurst Place
Craving More Atlanta Activities?
If you need more things to do while visiting Atlanta, check out these top posts:
- 13 Most Haunted Places in Atlanta
- Roswell Ghost Tour Review: Explore Roswell’s Dark History
- Fall in Atlanta: 10 Fun Things to Do
- Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch Review
- Where to Go Apple Picking in Ellijay, Georgia
- A Tour of Southern Ghosts Review
- 4 Best Pumpkin Patches in Smyrna, GA
- Chilling Ghost Tours of Atlanta’s Fox Theatre
- 16 Fun Pumpkin Patches in Atlanta
- Zoo Atlanta’s Boo at the Zoo
Ready to visit Atlanta, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Atlanta to help plan your trip!
- Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Atlanta using Booking.com.
- Save on Attractions: Save 46% on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS.
Cheers!
Paige
Have you visited any of these historical cemeteries in Atlanta? Let me know in the comments!
Hi Paige! The cemetery article is so good! It makes me want to explore! I’ve toured Oakland Cemetery and could spend several days there. Did you see the Six Feet Under pub across the street from it?
I have family buried at Westview and at Decatur Cemetery.
Thanks for a great read! I’m back at the island and looking forward to seeing Becky.
Take care!
Paula Ashmore
Hi Paula! So glad you liked the article! Six Feet Under is great, I love their rooftop patio that overlooks the cemetery.
Cemeteries are so peaceful~
They really are.
Nice post 🙂
Thanks!
This is so fascinating. I love a good cemetery. So much history.
Me too!
Who knew that cemeteries could be this historic?! They really are a place for learning, and Atlanta has a lot of people here to learn about.
Cemeteries are some of the best hidden gems for learning history!
I love exploring cemeteries, I find them so interesting and peaceful to walk around. I love to also search for the oldest grave when I’m there!
I’ve never done a tour of a graveyard before – although here in Edinburgh we have lots of city tours that take you into some of the graveyards!
Emily
I’ll have to check out some of those tours next time I’m in Edinburgh, I love a good cemetery and I bet Scotland has some nice ones!