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All the United States California San Francisco Buena Vista Park Tombstones
AO Edited

Buena Vista Park Tombstones

Gold Rush-era tombstones line the park's paths.

San Francisco, California

Added By
Annetta Black
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You can make out individual letters and portions of words.   Celeste Noche/Atlas Obscura
The walk is pretty, too.   Celeste Noche/Atlas Obscura
The tombstones are visible along the sun-dappled path.   Celeste Noche/Atlas Obscura
Fragments of words are still visible.   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
The tombstones are fractured.   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
To find traces of the tombstones, you have to look closely.   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
  Maggie Mason / Atlas Obscura User
There are a few on the path just above the tennis courts.   Maggie Mason / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Look closely as you wander the winding, tree-lined paths. Here, in the city's earliest park, you'll also find traces of some of San Francisco's earliest tombstones. 

Following the mass relocation of the city's cemeteries to Colma in the first half of the 20th century, San Francisco was left with acres of new, buildable property, and a surplus of old tombstones. Only the tombstones and mausoleums of the city's rich, famous, and those with living families who paid to have markers moved were relocated. The rest of were sent to the rubble pile, eventually becoming building material in the growing city.

The huge numbers of unclaimed tombstones ended up being used in breakwaters in the Marina District, as path liners at Buena Vista Park, and at Aquatic Park, where the distinctive stones can still be made out at low tide.  

More recently, a cache of old stones was used to build the wonderful Wave Organ near the St. Francis Yacht Club.

Today, only three cemeteries remain in the city of San Francisco—at Mission Dolores, the Presidio, and the lovely Richmond District Columbarium.

Related Tags

Catacombs Gravestones Parks Memento Mori Catacombs And Crypts Aletrail Graves

Know Before You Go

Like most places in San Francisco, the tombstone remnants are located on a hillside. If traveling by car, Buena Vista Avenue East is the preferred access. Not only is there more available street parking, but the climb to the summit is more gradual and aided by the assistance of stairs.

MUNI, the city's public transportation company, has several buses that service the park. The tombstones will be located nearly 2/3 of the way up a steady grade. It is well worth the 5 - 10 minute climb, as there are phenomenal views, (through the trees) of the city, Golden Gate Bridge, and the bay.

Community Contributors

Added By

Annetta Black

Edited By

Rachel, hana, James Ricci, SEANETTA...

  • Rachel
  • hana
  • James Ricci
  • SEANETTA
  • Allison
  • jessicahester1
  • Maggie Mason

Published

July 25, 2013

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Sources
  • http://sfhcbasc.blogspot.com/2009/09/bits-and-pieces-of-san-francisco.html
  • http://www.sfhistoryencyclopedia.com/articles/c/cemeteries.html
  • http://www.sanfranciscocemeteries.com/buena_vista_a.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buena_Vista_Park
Buena Vista Park Tombstones
Buena Vista & Haight Street
San Francisco, California, 94117
United States
37.768793, -122.44196
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