Columbarium San Francisco

History, heritage and dioramas

Byron from San Francisco

"The SF Columbarium is one of the only cemeteries within San Francisco city limits. Pair a diorama with a dash of biography & you have me hooked..."

Pair a diorama with a dash of biography and San Francisco history and you have me hooked. The SF Columbarium is one of the only cemeteries within San Francisco city limits. This is the outcome of very SF forces, real estate speculation and political shenanigans. In the early part of the 20th century, most cemeteries were uprooted and moved to Colma to make room for more development.

The Columbarium, which opened in 1898, is the last vestige of odd fellows cemetery. The reason I find myself wandering in for a few minutes whenever I am nearby in the Inner Richmond is the chance to see a different personal slice of SF. The classical dome is filled with glass-fronted niches, each with a mini-story. There are early SF pioneers buried here with elaborate urns and classical sculpture of 49er grit. World War veterans, as well as veterans of the war in the 80s and 90s against HIV. The little windows into people's lives often include tokens of their passions and quirks. Every visit yields a delightful new find and puts me in the mood to go out and get the most out of the day.

Art & culture

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San Francisco Spotter Byron

About me The quote “It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious” by Oscar Wilde works for me. I grew up on the central coast and have always valued the California virtues of connecting with people and their stories - there is a reason Hollywood and Silicon Valley started here. Everyone has a story, but so few tell it well. For the last 30 years, I have lived in SF with my charming husband and a series of cats who all have a story to tell. For better or worse, my story is that history is never boring, if you ask enoug...

About this spot

1 Lorraine Ct

US$

no-price

Website

6288009607

Oct 31, 2025

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