San Francisco Columbarium
The Verdict
"A circular neoclassical building from 1898 built by the Odd Fellows, with a copper dome and more than 8,500 glass fronted niches. It survived the 1906 earthquake and the city's 1934 burial ban, and was restored in the 1980s by the Neptune Society after near abandonment. Niches are personalized with Giants relics, whiskey flasks, miniature cars, and handwritten letters. Free, in the Inner Richmond."
What you need to know
A Beaux-Arts Monument to the Dead
The San Francisco Columbarium was built in 1898 by the Odd Fellows fraternal organization as a place to house cremated remains. It’s a neoclassical rotunda with a copper dome, four radiating wings, and over 8,500 niches holding urns of ashes. The building survived the 1906 earthquake, decades of neglect, and the city’s ban on new burials, in effect since 1901. It’s now one of the few places in San Francisco where you can still inter remains.
What’s There
The central rotunda rises three stories under a stained glass dome. Mosaic floors, ornate plasterwork, and painted murals cover the surfaces. The building was nearly demolished in the 1980s before the Neptune Society restored it.
Many niches are personalized by the families who use them: miniature cable cars, Giants memorabilia, bottles of whiskey, handwritten notes. The building is generally quiet; you may be the only visitor.
Visiting
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM. Saturday-Sunday, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM. Free tours on Saturdays.
Cost: Free
What to know: The entrance is at the end of Loraine Court, a residential cul-de-sac off Anza Street. This is an active place of remembrance; visit quietly.
Getting There
Transit: Muni 38-Geary or 38R to Stanyan, then a short walk south on Anza. The 33-Ashbury/18th also stops nearby.
Parking: Street parking on Anza and surrounding residential blocks. Usually available on weekdays.
Walking: Close to Golden Gate Park and the Inner Richmond commercial stretch on Clement Street.
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