Presidio Pet Cemetery
The Verdict
"Free and open during Presidio park hours. The headstones are personal and sometimes funny. Near the corner of McDowell and Crissy Field Avenue. Takes about 15 minutes to walk through."
What you need to know
Hundreds of Military Pets Buried Under Monterey Pines
A half-acre plot in the Presidio holds the graves of hundreds of pets, mostly dogs and cats, but also parakeets, rabbits, hamsters, lizards, goldfish, and at least one mouse. The cemetery is surrounded by a white picket fence and shaded by Monterey pines. Many headstones mimic official military grave markers, engraved with the pet’s name and the family’s rank. The oldest markers date to the early 1950s, though legends suggest animals have been buried here since the 19th century.
What Makes It Worth It
The headstones are the draw. Some are solemn and military-formal. Others are deeply personal: hand-painted, decorated with toys, or inscribed with messages that are genuinely moving. “Our little colonel” reads one. Another just says “Good dog.” The range of emotion packed into this small space is surprising.
No one knows exactly how the cemetery started. There are no official records. Theories include burial grounds for cavalry horses, World War II guard dogs, and officers’ family pets. The cemetery fell into disrepair in the 1970s before an anonymous retired Navy man began maintaining it.
It’s a quiet, shady spot with almost no visitors. Five minutes to walk through, ten if you stop to read the stones. The contrast between the military precision of some markers and the raw grief of others is what makes it stick with you.
Skip this if you’re currently grieving a pet. It’s more tender than you’d expect.
Visiting
Address: McDowell Avenue near Crissy Field Avenue, the Presidio
Hours: Dawn to dusk. No gate, always accessible.
Cost: Free
Best time to go: Any quiet morning. It’s rarely crowded.
What to know: The cemetery is small and easy to miss. Look for the white picket fence along McDowell Avenue. No new burials are allowed.
Getting There
Transit: Muni 28-19th Avenue or PresidiGo shuttle through the Presidio. The 30-Stockton stops at the Presidio’s eastern edge.
Parking: Free parking along McDowell Avenue and throughout the Presidio.
Walking: Near Crissy Field, the Presidio Officers’ Club, and the Walt Disney Family Museum. Easy to combine with a Presidio day trip.
📍 Location: This activity is in Marina District. Explore the neighborhood →
