Oakland Cemetery isn’t just the final resting place for hundreds human residents–the famous cemetery is also home to a few beloved animals too.
And one striking story that every Atlantan should know about is Tweet the Mockingbird, who has rested at Oakland for the past 152 years. Keep scrolling to learn all about Tweet’s sweet story.
Tweet the Mockingbird
We don’t know exactly when Tweet was born, but we do know that this sweet little mockingbird was a beloved family pet.
When she passed away in 1874, her owner, Molly Weimer, hired a stonecutter to make a headstone for her: a sculpture of a bird. She now rests in the Weimer family plot, with her headstone above her.
Her official death date is January 24th, 1874. Come January, spare a thought for sweet Tweet.
Wait… that doesn’t really look like a bird on the headstone…
Well… that’s the thing. Legend has it, when Molly Weimer asked the stonecutter to sculpt a bird for Tweet’s headstone, he was unable to complete it. So instead, they settled on a lamb, the symbol of innocence, often found on children’s graves.
This is why you’ll notice that the front leg of the lamb in the sculpture is very skinny and almost, well, birdlike.
Can I visit Tweet?
You can! Tweet is located at in the Weimer family plot in Section 3, Block 48. If you need help finding it, ask one of the Oakland employees to point you in the right direction. Her grave is, of course, very small and easy to miss if you’re not careful.
Mockingbirds at Oakland
Coincidentally, there are live mockingbirds flying all over Oakland Cemetery. Atlanta is home to a large population Northern mockingbirds, and you can hear them year-round in the cemetery, even at night.
One could imagine Tweet is comforted by the songs of her friends, always wafting around the air.
Rest in peace, darling Tweet! The beloved little pet mockingbird resting at Oakland.