Prior to 1850, several burial grounds existed in and around Keokuk. In 1851 the city designated 40 acres of land to establish Oakland Cemetery, and many interments from other cemeteries in the city were moved there. A designated section was established for members of the Catholic faith, and in 1855 the Jewish community requested an area of land for their burials. Oakland also includes special sections known as Babyland and Potter's Field. Among those interred there are soldiers who served in military conflicts both foreign and domestic from every period of American history, resting beside civil rights activists, athletes, politicians, artists, business owners, medical and legal professionals, educators, and religious leaders. From unmarked grave to towering mausoleum, every burial there carries a story, and each person in a unique way contributed to the community and helped make it what it is.