San Fernando Pioneer Memorial Cemetery

San Fernando Pioneer Memorial Cemetery is a burial ground at Foothill Boulevard and Bledsoe Street where early settlers of the valley rest. The grounds contain grave markers and monuments spanning more than a century of the region's development.

The cemetery was established in 1874 when Senator Charles Maclay founded San Fernando Township and needed a burial place for the growing community. It received interments until 1939, after which the site fell into neglect before community efforts restored it decades later.

The site honors the settlers who built the San Fernando Valley, and its name reflects their importance to the region's story. Walking through today, you can see how the community continues to recognize these early residents.

The grounds are open to visitors but largely overgrown and unmaintained, so wear sturdy shoes for walking through uneven terrain. Pathways are not clearly marked, and some graves are hard to spot among the vegetation, so plan for slow and careful exploration.

A ground survey in 2010 found 214 grave sites on the property, yet historical records suggest more than 600 people were buried there originally. This gap shows how many early burials vanished through time and neglect.