Our next Field Trip will be to historic Oakland Cemetery in downtown Atlanta across from Cabbagetown. We will meet on Saturday morning, July 5th at 9 a.m. The hours of the cemetery are "dawn to dusk" every day except Halloween. Everyone is invited, rain or shine, and you may carpool with other members to save gasoline if you like. You may discuss carpooling in the forum area located here. You may also arrive earlier than 9 a.m. if you think lighting conditions would suit you better. Driving directions to the cemetery are located here. There is no admission charge to get into the cemetery unless you plan to stay there permanently.

 

The cemetery is brimming with photographic opportunities, from the ornate architecture of the mauseleums to the hundreds of statues and thousands of interesting tombstones. The landscape is overwhelming, with numerous huge trees and weathered walls and walkways. Over 70,000 people are buried there.

 

Because of the tornado damage incurred March 15th of this year, no one is allowed to park inside the cemetery area. Either find a place to park outside on the streets or try parking across the street at the restaurant and bar "Six Feet Under."

 

One way you can show your patriotism this summer is to celebrate the July 4th weekend by using your camera to delve into Atlanta's past. The July 10th photo contest will include a section for this field trip.

 

Oakland Cemetery is the burial place of "Gone with the Wind" author Margaret Mitchell, pro golfer Bobby Jones, 24 of Atlanta's past mayors, several Civil Rights pioneers, and most importantly, 7000 Civil War soldiers. You can imagine that Margaret Mitchell visited this cemetery during her research phase as she wrote one of the greatest historic novels in U.S. history. Founded in 1850, the cemetery was expanded several times during and after the Civil War. For more information, please visit the Oakland Cemetery website.