This mausoleum, and the small unmarked cemetery that is to one side, was all kind of sad when I visited a while ago. It’s beyond neglected, there’s graffiti everywhere, it is filled with LOTS of trash.*
Original plantation owner James Crowley died in 1859 and left his family his large 500 acre estate that he was buried on.
In the 1960’s, after decades of Crowley family migration and the parceling of land, nearby mall developers bought the remaining property and built the Crowley Mausoleum to house 13 graves of James Crowley and his immediate family so they would remained protected from development.
Sadly, the graves of slaves were not included in the protection and it is thought that the development was built over that part of the family cemetery. Numerous tests for large air pockets were positive and that’s a good indicator of bodies laid to rest.
Please use caution when entering. Definitely an adventure!
Atlanta had a startlingly large number of cemeteries and mausoleums that have been built around. There’s even a tiny cemetery in/on the tarmac at the airport! Look up Hart Cemetery, Gilbert Memorial Cemetery and Flat Rock Cemetery. Ah, progress.
* Last time I posted about this mausoleum and its condition I got a bit of blowback. This is in no way a slight to the family or community because I know it is difficult to maintain such places ($$$) and to gather groups for cleanup. We have have cemeteries in Athens that fall to neglect so fast it’ll make your head spin!
There are no scheduled cleanups for the Crowley Mausoleum in 2026 but if anyone hears of any here please share! I’d love to volunteer my time.
3624 Memorial Drive
Decatur, GA 30032
