The long history of Alta Vista Cemetery began in 1872 when the City Government purchased 9.25 acres from soon to be Georgia Governor Allen D. Candler. Alta Vista is the final resting place of two former Georgia Governors, Lt. Gen James Longstreet, three Revolutionary War Solders, a N.A.S.A. Astronaut, two U.S. Congressmen, two men Georgia Counties were named after, two song writers, Poultry Pioneer Jesse Jewell, a circus performer, a bridge builder, 158 Civil War Veterans, an inventor, and numerous other interesting people. Alta Vista is arguably the most historic place within the City of Gainesville. It is a classroom for Georgia history, funerary art, and cemetery design.
The oldest original grave in Alta Vista dates from 1872, but because graves from other cemeteries were moved to Alta Vista when it first opened the Cemetery has grave markers with burial dates as early as 1828.
Alta Vista has an inventory of available graves spaces and a Chapel Mausoleum building which was built in 2004. The Cemetery consist of the original 9.25 acres, a private cemetery that was added in the 1960’s, a family cemetery moved here in 1928, two older “free ground” areas, and numerous expansions that have been made over the years. Alta Vista consists of approximately 80 acres today.
Ground spaces at Alta Vista range in price from $1000 to $1500 depending on various factors. Mausoleum crypts range from $3910 to $12,420 and Mausoleum niches range in price from $700 to $1450. Alta Vista offers a full range of burial options.
The Cemetery Office is located at 521 Jones Street. We invite everyone out to obtain a copy of our “Walking Tour Guide” and to spend time rambling through the stones that reflect the history of Gainesville and Hall County, Georgia. We are always interested in the family history of those buried in Alta Vista. If you have old pictures of the Cemetery or pictures of those buried here we will be glad to scan the information in our computer records for future generations to view.
Entrance to the Cemetery can be accessed from Jesse Jewell Parkway or Alta Vista Road. The Cemetery is open during daylight hours.
Tommy Casper, Cemetery Superintendent
tcasper@gainesville.org
770-503-3052
Content retrieved from: https://www.gainesville.org/cemetery-newsletter.
