San Francisco National Cemetery

San Francisco National Cemetery is a military burial ground located within the Presidio, stretching across 28 acres of rolling terrain with white headstones and Monterey cypress trees throughout. The landscape features organized rows of graves and several monuments honoring specific military groups and historical moments.

The cemetery was established in 1884 as the first national military burial ground on the West Coast of the United States. It was created to consolidate remains from earlier military posts scattered throughout the Pacific region.

The grounds are dedicated to service members who shaped the nation's history through wars spanning from the 1800s to recent times. Walking through the rows, visitors see names and inscriptions reflecting the country's military journey.

The grounds are open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily and maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The rolling terrain means comfortable walking shoes are recommended for moving between the various sections.

Among those buried here are Medal of Honor recipients alongside individuals with extraordinary stories, including Pauline Cushman, a Civil War spy, and Sarah Bowman, a woman who provided care to soldiers during the Mexican-American War. Their graves reveal less familiar chapters of American military history.

Location: San Francisco

Inception: 1884

Opening Hours: 06:00-18:00

Website: http://cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/sanfrancisco.asp

GPS coordinates: 37.79965,-122.46442

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:51