Historic Oakland Foundation Announces Dates and Details for its "Capturing the Spirit of Oakland-2008 Halloween Tours"

(PRLEAP.COM) The Historic Oakland Foundation today announced the details of its "Capturing the Spirit of Oakland-2008 Halloween Tours," including the addition of a third night and the implementation of an advance purchase, timed ticket sales policy to accommodate all ticket holders. Dates for this year’s event are October 24, 25 and 26, 2008. Tours last approximately one hour and will depart from the Bell Tour, which is located in the center of the cemetery.

The historic cemetery’s annual Halloween event features Oakland "residents" who tell their stories to listeners, and it represents the only time during the year that the cemetery is open at night. The 2008 tour will include stories about golfing legend Bobby Jones, and other prominent African American, Jewish and Civil War leaders from Atlanta.

Tickets cost $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, and are available on Oakland Cemetery’ website. Unlike previous years, tickets must be purchased in advance and visitors must have their tickets to enter the cemetery.

"The community has rallied to support these tours for the past two years, but unfortunately we didn’t anticipate such demand and had to turn people away," said David Moore, executive director of the Historic Oakland Foundation. "This year we’ve taken a closer look at how many people we can accommodate each night, added an additional night, and instituted an advance, on-line purchase policy that will let people select and purchase tickets for a specific time slot. More importantly, the automated, on-line ticketing system will prevent us from overselling tickets and allow us to deliver on our commitment to every ticket holder. "

Halloween tour visitors are encouraged to bring a flashlight and wear comfortable walking shoes. Costumes are welcome.

The cemetery is located at 248 Oakland Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. Complimentary parking is available in lots near the main entrance gate and on neighboring streets. Carpooling or taking MARTA to the King Memorial Station is highly recommended. For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit: http://www.oaklandcemetery.com/capturingHalloween.html.

About Oakland Cemetery and The Historic Oakland Foundation

In 1850 city founders purchased six acres of land for use as a public burial ground for a young but fast-growing town that already had a population of more than 2,500. It was designed as a rural garden cemetery, a 19th century innovation conceived as an alternative to traditional graveyards that were often crowded and aesthetically unappealing.

Originally called "Atlanta Graveyard," or "City Burial Place," the area was renamed "Oakland Cemetery" in 1872. By then it had expanded to 48 acres, mainly due to the need to bury soldiers who died in local hospitals during the Civil War.
Oakland increasingly became surrounded by residential and industrial development, and the last sites were sold in 1884. With the passage of time, many graves went unattended as descendents moved away. Oakland fell into serious disrepair from neglect and occasional vandalism.

The Historic Oakland Foundation was founded in 1976, the same year Oakland was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In conjunction with the city of Atlanta, the Foundation works to stabilize and deter the cemetery’s deterioration, and secure grants and funding for its preservation and restoration.

On March 14, 2008, Oakland Cemetery was hit by a tornado. Centuries-old trees were toppled, monuments were shattered and roads were completely blocked. Miraculously, the Bell Tower, which serves as Oakland’s visitor center, museum shop, office and archives, was spared. Oakland officials worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to secure funding to restore the cemetery and repair the damage.

Effective June 7, 2008, Oakland Cemetery is now open to visitors. The approximately 150 trees that were damaged or destroyed by the tornado have been cut and cleared from roadways and paths; stones and monuments are being repaired; and FEMA has deemed the cemetery safe again for visitors and tour groups.

For the latest information, visit www.oaklandcemetery.com.

PR Leap is a service of Condesa, Inc. © 2009 All Rights Reserved. Use of our service is governed by our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Issuers of news releases are solely responsible for the accuracy of their content. Copyright / IP Policy