San Francisco Columbarium, Historic columbarium in Richmond District, San Francisco, United States.
San Francisco Columbarium is a neoclassical structure with a copper dome, featuring intricate stained glass windows, detailed woodwork, and eight ground-floor rooms arranged in a circular pattern. The building holds more than 8,500 niches for the interment of cremated remains.
The building opened in 1898 when architect Bernard J.S. Cahill designed it as a response to San Francisco's emerging need for cremation facilities. After the city banned burials within its limits in 1902, the columbarium became the sole non-denominational burial option.
Personal items and creative inscriptions within the niches reveal stories of residents from many different backgrounds and neighborhoods, showing how this place has become a reflection of the city itself.
The columbarium is open to visitors and guided tours are available to help you understand the building's layout and story. Visiting on weekday mornings allows you to move through the rooms without crowds and observe the details at your own pace.
The ground-floor rooms are named after winds from mythology, while upper levels feature rooms named after constellations. This blend of mythological and astronomical naming creates a poetic quality that many visitors pass through without noticing.
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