Whispers from the niches. That’s what I hear here at the San Francisco Columbarium. This isn’t just a building it’s a repository of stories. A place where San Francisco’s history lives on.
The San Francisco Columbarium opened in 1898. Architect Bernard J S Cahill designed this neoclassical wonder. Its copper dome gleams. It’s the only non-denominational burial place within San Francisco’s city limits open to the public. It has space available.
Originally part of the Odd Fellows Cemetery the Columbarium survived. The cemetery itself was relocated to Colma in 1929. Many urns were removed. But the Columbarium remained. It’s a testament to perseverance. A silent witness to San Francisco’s evolution.
In 2016 workers unearthed a surprise. The mummified body of two-year-old Edith Howard Cook. A poignant reminder of lives lived and lost. A hidden chapter in the Columbarium’s story.
The building itself is remarkable. Its eight ground floor rooms bear the names of mythological winds. Beautiful stained glass windows adorn six of these rooms. One window possibly by Louis Comfort Tiffany or John LaFarge depicts angels in flight. The upper floors are named after constellations.
The San Francisco Columbarium holds the ashes of prominent figures. Computer scientist John Backus creator of Fortran rests here. So does Chet Helms the promoter of San Francisco’s Summer of Love. Even the remains of legendary magician Harry August Jansen known as Dante the Magician are enshrined within its walls. The founders of Anchor Brewing Company Ernst Baruth and Otto Schinkel are also here. Their presence adds a unique brew to this place.
The Columbarium is more than just a final resting place. It’s a living museum of San Francisco’s past. It whispers stories of innovation artistry and the vibrant spirit of the city. Its niches are filled with the ashes of countless individuals each with their own unique tale. Their lives their legacies continue to resonate within these walls. The San Francisco Columbarium stands as a quiet sentinel a testament to the enduring power of memory.