Main entrance gate. Photo taken September 2012.

Confederate Memorial

The "Confederate Dead" with Confederate Memorial in background.

Jewish section in foreground, Confederate graves beyond (with Memorial), Atlanta skyline in distance.

View of Atlanta skyline from Oakland Cemetery.

The Confederate Memorial Ground lies in the heart of Oakland Cemetery.

There are almost 7,000 Confederate soldiers buried in this section, including three Generals.

The Lion of Atlanta (seen here in the background of this photo) is surrounded by over 3,000 unknown soldiers.

A 65-foot Confederate Obelisk marks the center of this area.

Unlike most Confederate Cemeteries, there are also 16 Union soldiers buried in this cemetery. They died in local hospitals.

Where Hood Watched the Battle of Atlanta State Historical Marker

Oakland has its share of Civil War history. This marker is located in the north section of the cemetery. It reads:

WHERE HOOD WATCHED THE BATTLE OF ATLANTA

In 1856 James E. Williams (Mayor of Atlanta 1866-1868), built a residence atop this high ground which later became a part of Oakland Cemetery. From the second story of the house, Gen. John B. Hood, in command of Confederate forces, & members of his staff, watched that part of the Battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864, where Brown's & Clayton's divs., Cheatham's A.C. [CSA], moved eastward astride the Ga. R.R. to the assault on the Federal 15th A.C. line also astride the R.R. -- at DeGress Ave., 1 1/4 mi. distant.

A notable landmark of this area -- the Rolling Mill -- stood on the site of the cotton mill.

Oakland Cemetery contains several distinctive areas. One of these is the Jewish section, which is often referred to as "The Old Jewish Burial Grounds."

In the late 1800s, the Hebrew Benevolent Society of Atlanta purchased some of the land in Oakland and divided it between several of the local synagogues.

The section owned by the Ahavath Achim synagogue (seen in this photo) is one of the most intriguing areas of the cemetery. Most of the synagogue's members were Russian Jews. They chose to "maximize" the small amount of land that they had with a burial style that was used in Russia.

The tombstones are extremely tall. There are no walkways between the markers. Most of the graves are covered with slabs leaving no space to walk behind the stones.

Because of this close style, when this section was vandalized in the 1990s, over $100,000 in damage was done. When the tall stones in the front were pushed over, it created a domino effect, knocking over row after row of stones.

Some of the many winding "streets" through the cemetery contain the original cobblestone-look they had more than 100 years ago.

Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta

Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta

Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta

Oakland Cemetery Atlanta

View of Oakland Cemetery from rooftop deck of Six Feet Under Bar and Restaurant.

Six Feet Under Bar and Restaurant on Memorial Drive.

Oakland Cemetery office and visitor's center.

Photo taken September 2012. Atlanta downtown skyline in background.