The grave of Carrie Steele Logan, who was born into slavery in Georgia in about 1829. She became a philanthropist and, in 1888, founded the oldest black orphanage in the United States. Photo courtesy of Oakland Cemetery.
Every year, the Historic Oakland Foundation offers FREE guided walking tours of Oakland Cemetery’s African American Grounds. The tours have become a Black History Month tradition in Atlanta.
The tour has a theme of “We Shall Overcome: African American Stories from Civil War to Civil Rights” and it explores the lives and accomplishments of African-Americans in Atlanta.
Another tour, “Black Magnolias,” explores the history, lives, and labors of Atlanta’s African American women. This year, Oakland is also offering FREE tickets to this tour for Black History Month.
On these walks, the guides tell fascinating stories that celebrate the lives of black heroes and heroines who have long gone unrecognized, as well as those with familiar names.
The hour-long tours begin at Oakland Cemetery’s Bell Tower.
Please arrive a few minutes early to check in.
These FREE tours sell out every year, so reserve your spot now.
Click through the links below to get tour times and book a ticket.
2025 Tour Dates
- We Shall Overcome
- Feb. 2
- Feb. 8
- Feb. 9
- Feb. 16
- Feb. 23
- Black Magnolias
- Feb. 8
- Feb. 22
- Feb. 23
In past years, stops along the tour have included the final resting places of some of Atlanta’s black history pioneers, including:
- Carrie Steele Logan, founder of Atlanta’s first orphanage for African American children
- William Finch, one of Atlanta’s first African American city councilmen
- Bishop John W. Gaines and Julia A. Gaines, pastor and First Lady of Big Bethel A.M.E. Church
- Maynard Jackson, Atlanta’s first African American mayor
Ollivette Allison was executive director of the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home from 1976 until 2009. It’s been estimated that she cared for more than 5,000 children at the orphanage.
About Oakland’s African American Grounds
Historic African-American burial traditions relied on natural grave markers like wood, shrubbery, or flowers — which have been lost through the passage of time. Since much of this section of Oakland is missing visual markers, the restoration effort that began in 2017 has been especially challenging.
About the venue
Historic Oakland Cemetery is Atlanta’s oldest public park, and the final resting place for many notable citizens — including author Margaret Mitchell, former Atlanta mayors Maynard Jackson and Ivan Allen, and sports legend Bobby Jones.
Less than a mile from downtown Atlanta, Oakland’s 48 acres are a treasure trove of history, gardens, sculpture, architecture, and ancient oaks and magnolias.
Oakland Cemetery is home to over 1400 trees, some of them nearly 200 years old.
More Black History Month events:
(This list will continue to grow — so check back!)
We hope you got a reservation! Enjoy!
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