Garden Cemetery

With its first burial in 1842 and its affiliation as a city cemetery in 1847, Oakland Cemetery in Shreveport fits perfectly into the timeframe of what was known as the “garden cemetery” or “rural cemetery movement.” This new approach to cemeteries came as urban cemeteries in churchyards became overcrowded. Burial atop or in close proximity to other burials created what was considered a health hazard. At a time when diseases flowed through populations that had no benefit of antibiotics and antiviral medications, a family could experience multiple deaths within a short span of time.

Garden cemeteries sought to take the stigma away from cemeteries and make them places of beauty and serenity that would provide a park-like setting, not just for the deceased and their families but for communities. In 1831 the first garden cemetery in the U.S. was developed in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mount Auburn took its cues from European cemeteries being created for the same purposes. The goal was to make the burial sites part of a natural and beautiful setting, blending architectural monuments, plants and trees into a park with winding trails, beautiful vistas and tranquil spots where visitors could stop and commune with nature.

Because historic Oakland Cemetery is part of the great garden cemetery movement, it is the goal of Oakland Cemetery Preservation Society to return the cemetery to its early glory and make it a source of pride for Shreveport and the surrounding community.