Oaklawn Cemetery: Tampa's Historic Burial Ground

Established in 1850 when Tampa was a small town, Oaklawn Cemetery is the city's first public burial ground. Originally designated as a final resting place for 'white and slave, rich and poor,' it reflects the diverse social fabric of early Tampa. The cemetery provides a unique look into Tampa's history, with around 1,700 graves, including those of thirteen city mayors, a Florida governor, and two Florida Supreme Court justices.Located in downtown Tampa, Oaklawn comprises two adjoining cemeteries: the city-owned Oaklawn and the Catholic-owned St. Louis Cemetery. St. Louis Cemetery, established in 1874, holds the remains of Vicente Martinez Ybor and several pioneer priests.Over time, the cemetery fell into disrepair, with wooden grave markers succumbing to the elements and the original plat being misplaced after the Civil War. In 2017, Oaklawn Cemetery was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can explore the grounds and discover the stories of Tampa's pioneers, Confederate soldiers, and victims of yellow fever epidemics.