Oakland Cemetery

Atlanta's oldest and largest cemetery, a 48-acre park containing 70,000 graves including 6,900 Confederate soldiers, Margaret Mitchell, Bobby Jones, and 27 former mayors. Built in 1850, it remains the city's most historic green space.

Oakland Cemetery is Atlanta's oldest and most haunted burial ground, chartered in 1850 and spanning nearly 50 acres. More than 70,000 souls rest here, including author Margaret Mitchell, 27 Atlanta mayors, 6 governors, and thousands of Civil War soldiers in both Confederate and Union graves.

The Civil War left an indelible mark on Oakland. In the summer of 1864, the cemetery served as headquarters for Confederate commander John B. Hood during the Battle of Atlanta. Some battles took place within the cemetery itself. By 1872, Oakland had expanded from six to 48 acres to accommodate the massive influx of Civil War casualties.

The most recognizable Confederate memorial is a massive stone lion dubbed "The Lion of the Confederacy," wrapped around a carved Confederate flag, watching over a field of more than 3,000 unknown Confederate dead. Visitors insist they've seen uniformed soldiers wandering these grounds - and even hanging from the cemetery's trees.

The most chilling reports involve hearing Confederate Army roll call among the tombstones. Some claim their own names were called amid the list of the dead. Ghost soldiers wander through the Confederate section, and the men behind the Great Locomotive Chase - who were hanged on the outskirts of the cemetery - are said to patrol the grounds where they were later buried.

Margaret Mitchell, who wrote "Gone with the Wind" while living just blocks away, is buried at Oakland. Her grave is one of the cemetery's biggest draws, and some believe her spirit lingers near the manuscript she loved. Oakland is without a doubt Atlanta's most haunted destination - a must-see for anyone interested in the supernatural history of the South.