Sunday, July 10, 2011

Oaklawn Cemetery, Tampa Florida

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Oaklawn Cemetery was founded in 1850, when Tampa was still a small town with a population of approximately 500 people.   It is the resting place of veterans of seven wars as well as 17 mayors, one former governor,  the town's founding fathers and early entrepreneurs.   Also buried here are pirates, gangsters, assorted scalawags and the victims of numerous yellow fever epidemics.

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 Here also rests  Vincente Martinez Ybor the founder of Ybor City and Tampa's once flourishing cigar industry.    The old graveyard is rich with history and stories.
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Oaklawn Cemetery is located at  606 E Harrison Street on the northern edge of Downtown Tampa.  It is open from 8:00am until 6:00pm.   For more information follow the provided link.