Neptune Society Columbarium

San Francisco Columbarium
Details
Established 1898
Location One Loraine Court
San Francisco, California
Country United States
Coordinates 37°46′50″N 122°27′25″W / 37.78056°N 122.45694°W / 37.78056; -122.45694Coordinates: 37°46′50″N 122°27′25″W / 37.78056°N 122.45694°W / 37.78056; -122.45694
Owned by Neptune Society of Northern California
Number of graves ~8,500 niches
Website www.neptune-society.com
Find a Grave San Francisco Columbarium at Find a Grave
Designated 1996[1]
Reference no. 209

The Neptune Society Columbarium of San Francisco is a columbarium (repository for human ashes) owned and operated by the Neptune Society of Northern California, at One Loraine Court, near Stanyan and Anza Streets, just north of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. Built in 1898 by architect Bernard J.S. Cahill, the copper-domed Columbarium is an example of Neo-Classical architecture. It is the only non-denominational burial place within San Francisco's city limits that is open to the public and has space available.

History

The Columbarium was once part of the Odd Fellows Cemetery, which encompassed approximately 167 acres (68 ha). It was built to complement an existing crematorium designed by Cahill in 1895.

In 1902 the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance to prohibit the sale of cemetery lots or permit any further burials within the city. By late 1910, cremation was also prohibited. The Odd Fellows, forced to abandon their cemetery, established Green Lawn Cemetery in Colma. Transfer of bodies began in 1929 and many families also chose to remove their urns from the Columbarium. The crematorium and various mausoleums were demolished, and many of the headstones were used to build a seawall at Aquatic Park. Only the Columbarium remained.

After a time, the Columbarium was sold to the Bay Cities Cemetery Association and later to Cypress Abbey. As it passed from one organization to another it fell into disrepair. In 1980, the Neptune Society of Northern California bought it and began restoration.

In 1996, the building was added to the register of San Francisco Designated Landmarks.[1]

Design

The Columbarium combines baroque and neoclassical features. Cahill was probably inspired by the Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago. The diameter, from the entrance to the stained glass window opposite, is 64 feet (20 m). The width of the rotunda within the Inner circle is 29 feet (8.8 m) and the rotunda reaches a height of about 45 feet (14 m).

The eight rooms on the ground floor bear the names of the mythological winds. Six of the ground floor rooms feature beautiful stained glass windows. The window in the Aquilo room depicting three angels in flight, is attributed equally to Louis Comfort Tiffany or John LaFarge. The first floor rooms are named after constellations. The second and third floors are simpler in design.

The first floor contains approximately 2,400 niches, the second floor 2,500, and the third and fourth floors approximately 1,800 each, with an overall total of more than 8,500.

Notable interments

The Columbarium holds the remains, memorials, and cenotaphs of some of San Francisco's most prominent founding families, and celebrities:[2][3]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "City of San Francisco Designated Landmarks". City of San Francisco. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  2. ↑ Charlie Wells (July 25, 2010). "Bay Area famous graves". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  3. ↑ "San Francisco Columbarium". Find A Grave. 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2010.

External links

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