San Francisco Columbarium

1 Loraine Ct., Inner Richmond District, (415) 771-0717. M-F 9-5. Free.

exterior of San Francisco Columbarium
in San Francisco, California

Built in 1898 by architect Bernard J.S. Cahill, the Neo-Classical, copper-domed San Francisco Columbarium is the only non-denominational burial place within San Francisco's city limits that is open to the public and has space available. It is one of the few structures to survive the 1906 earthquake.

Originally part of the Odd Fellows Cemetery (the Odd Fellows is described on the website as “one of the world’s oldest fraternal societies, who saw death as something to approach without fear and funerals as events that should be ordinary yet dignified”), this four-floor building provides a glimpse into San Francisco history through its large 45-foot atrium rotunda, mosaic tile floors, ornate stained-glass windows, and domed skylight. Three main halls—Hall of Olympians, Hall of Titans, and Hall of Heroes—house approximately 8,500 niches. The first floor holds approximately 2,400 niches, the second floor 2,500, and the third and fourth floors approximately 1,800 each. Each of the niches and vaults holds cremated remains, and many of the glass-front niches are personalized with customized urns, photographs, and mementos.

The eight ground-floor rooms are named for the mythological winds, and six feature lovely stained glass windows. The Aquilo room window depicting three angels in flight is attributed to both Louis Comfort Tiffany and John LaFarge. Rooms on the upper floors are simpler in design.

interior rotunda at San Francisco Columbarium
in San Francisco, California

stained-glass angels window at San Francisco Columbarium
in San Francisco, California

niche at San Francisco Columbarium
in San Francisco, California

memory display at San Francisco Columbarium
in San Francisco, California

Cremations in San Francisco were outlawed in 1910. The original crematorium here was destroyed, and the buried dead and their headstones in the cemetery were mostly relocated to Colma, on the Peninsula. Today, the Rossi Pool here marks the spot where the crematorium once stood.

According to the website, “Also buried here are the Folger family, creators of Folgers Coffee; Chet Helms, music promoter and father of the city’s 1967 “Summer of Love”; John Backus, computer scientist and creator of Fortran; Jerry Juel, writer and puppeteer for The Muppets; and Jose Santana, renowned musician and father of Carlos Santana.”