The view from the top of the hill on a cold, clear, crystalline winter's night is not to be missed. Breathtaking. Designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. Ghirardelli tomb is beautiful. Tempus fugit. read more

Great work by Frederick Law Olmsted who also designed Central Park in New York - classic pastoral landscape and rolling lawns and a fantastic view of Oakland, the Bay, and SF at the top read more

The Mountain View Cemetery (MVC) is one of the oldest in California. Founded in 1863 and designed by Frederick Olmsted (who also designed New York City's Central Park) the cemetery contains the remains of many prominent Californians including Charles Crocker, Anthony Chabot and Samuel Merritt. While it is still an active cemetery the burial plots seemed pretty much taken up and I suspect most burials at MVC these days are via the interment of ashes into one of the mausoleums. Set on over 200 acres in the Oakland Hills, and right on the border of toney Piedmont, the cemetery has become a tourist attraction and is also used by some as a park. While we were there we saw a couple having a picnic date among the graves, a gang of Goths partying on the large crypts, joggers, bikers, and tourists, but no one being buried. Our purpose in being at MVC was to do research for a history assignment that my son had. The assignment was to visit an old cemetery, see if any trends or patterns could be identified from the names and dates on the tombstones, and then tie them into historical events. Visiting MVC with these objectives in mind made us much more observant and inquisitive of what we were seeing. My observation was that in death as in life people seek to create their own legacy and seek structure, and the way people think of the afterlife has not changed much since the days of the ancient Egyptians and probably earlier. MVC was segregated by class and race, with the plots of the wealthy occupying a stretch known as Millionaires Row. Their remains enjoy a spectacular view of the city and bay. There is even a tomb here in the shape of a pyramid! Research for the project also revealed that in 1955 a family sued MVC because their deceased, who was apparently not Caucasian, was denied burial in a whites-only section of the cemetery. The court strictly interpreted the state's discrimination laws at the time as applying to the living only, not dead bodies, and upheld the right of MVC to segregate burials. I don't think they segregate any more and I saw many ethnic names among the recent burials as well as burials of different religions. I am not sure if I would want my remains placed here someday. If I die famous and I want my fans to be able to visit my final resting place MVC would be ideal. But I wouldn't want the presence of Goth creeps or irreverent tourists to disturb or scare off my descendants from visiting. Also, I suspect the burial fees are quite high and would not want my remains to be a financial burden on anyone. While I am still alive I would find MVC to be a very pleasant place to visit the remains any friends or family who may yet repose here. I would even come here for a reflective stroll, but you won't catch me hanging with the Goths or picnicking among the dead. read more

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I have this little thermos in the shape of a penguin, and in his white belly, four wee cups of hot toddy remains scalding to the tongue. With destination MVC, I don't leave home without it. These times, the gates have been chained for hours. Bikes are secured just close enough to dash in the shadows along the great fence for cover, and with a swift hop, we vault and ascend the hill, stealing away into the night. The columbarium breathes an eerie stillness, its few dim bulbs humming out of place in the darkness. We negotiate a maze of stones, zigzagging our way towards the highest monolith. The estate sprawls, the elevation rises gently. Looking back from the direction we came, a scattering of yellow pinpoints break the black like the color knobs on the stars have been cranked up and they've crashed onto the horizon with nowhere to go but out, and they cover the surface of the land, marking our dominion. We sit in cherished contemplation atop some notable's grave, granite imprinting on the backs of our legs, sipping serenity until the blue light of the morning. read more

Death and I go way back. When you're a little kid and you go to bed one night with two parents and wake up the next day with only one, it colors your world forever. You carry this burden of knowledge that no one else can seem to understand - especially other children. I was always "the girl whose father died". I got the sad eyed faces from my teachers. I got taunted by the class bully "Well at least my daddy didn't die to get away from me." (n.b. that kid ended up od'ing when he was 22 - R.I.P. motherfucker). Anyway, since the age of six, I've pretty much been the most morbid person I know. I always think the worst - if you're two minutes late coming home, you're dead. If that mole on your back looks funny, you're dead. If that hangnail gets infected, you're dead, etc. Some people have told me that it's sad but I think of myself as a realist. I knew early on that it's all finite so it made me always think outside the box since we're all eventually going to end up in one. In keeping with my morbid streak, I have always been fascinated by cemeteries and columbariums. Mountain View is the grand daddy of all cemeteries. Designed by the same man who designed Central Park it is sometimes difficult to remember that it's a cemetery. It's serene and peaceful. They recently fixed all the fountains and they're gorgeous. Winding roads snake through the Oakland Hills. There is the famous Millionaire's Row. You can dress it up all you want but dead is dead whether you're stuck in the ground or ensconced in a giant, ornate marble mausoleum. The history here is mind boggling. Just walking through the older parts of the cemetery is a history lesson in itself. It really is one of the coolest places on earth. Recently, I have been having a difficult time finding a good place to walk LouLou and then it occurred to me that this place was it. The dead don't judge her pit bull-ness. It's just me, LouLou and miles of looping road that happen to loop past dead people. It's perfect. The north end of the cemetery near the fence is depressing. It's all old, toppled headstones and cracked crypts. I don't know why the cemetery has allowed such disrepair but it upsets me no end. LouLou and I avoid that spot as much as possible. Altho, some days, depending on my mood, I will go near them and read the names and recite the names of people long forgotten. Just so they are remembered only for a moment even if it is by a stranger. The graves of babies and young children break my heart. Walking through a cemetery on a daily basis will certainly put your life into perspective. It will remind you to stop worrying about stupid things and just enjoy life as much as possible. read more

Beautiful views and nice layout. However they do not care about your loved ones like one would hope. My wife lost her brother 10 years ago rather tragically and every year we visit the cemetery with her parents to pay our respects. This year though we found his grave-marker and two other nearby grave-marker covered in about 2 inches of hard packed dirt. It was readily apparent that a service was held recently and someone was buried near his grave. We took photos of the site which took us about 10 minutes to find because the stone and site number were covered in hard packed dirt. We went down to the office to ask for their assistance in cleaning his grave-marker. The first thing we were told even before we could mention the specifics was that grave-marker sink over time and it is natural. We explained this was most certainly not a case of sinking but that his grave-marker was deliberately covered and the dirt was packed into place. The person we spoke to then was MILDLY conciliatory at that point and explained that they did not have any maintenance people on-site that day. However they could open up a work order to clean it the following week. We explained why were there and attempted to persuaded her to lend us some basic tools to at least clean off the grave-marker. After about 20 minutes she relented and gave us hard edged piece of plastic and some rags to do some clean up work. She then assured my wife and I that we would receive an email with pictures once the work order was complete. We went back up to the grave-site and cleaned the grave-marker off as best as we could. We also cleaned off the other sites nearby because we knew how hurt we were by this treatment and did not want other to feel the same. Even after we cleaned the sites it was very apparent that the markers had been covered in dirt and buried. About three days later we received an email that our work order had been complete. We did not receive any pictures with the email just a short statement that our requested work order had been completed. The email went on to blame the problem on of all things gophers which is ludicrous given the circumstances. Copy of the email below On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 9:37 AM, Dxxxxx Gxxxxxxx (email redacted) wrote: Dear Exxxxx, The dirt you are referring to is from gophers and that has been cleaned up. The marker has also been re-leveled. If there are any other problems, just let us know and we will fill out a new Work Order. Thank you Dxxxxx Gxxxxxxx, Customer Service My in-laws bought several plots there when my wife's brother was first terminally diagnosed so they could be buried near him. However after this treatment they are seriously considering giving those plots up. Honestly I could never in good conscience recommend this place to anyone I knew or cared about. The management historically has been more concerned about the aesthetics of the front entrance than maintaining the plots. read more

I love coming here! It's not as creepy as you think. Recently I brought three friends who had never been here and it was so much fun seeing with new eyes. Two hours literally passed by quickly as we wandered around checking out historical tombstones, took in the breathtaking views (one friend pointed out that Lake Merritt was in direct sight of Merritt's grave. I had never noticed that before!) and climbed stairs/hills when we had a busts of energy. Can't wait to come back for the Pumpkin Patch and Santa (yup, not your typical graveyard)! read more

A mazing views of downtown Oakland and the SF skyline. B ernard Maybeck - buried here. C limbing the front gate to hang out at night. D riving my 1971 Chevelle Malibu. E eating sandwiches from Vito's Deli, formerly of Piedmont Avenue. F orgetting that the water is non-potable. Not a mistake you make twice. G reen turtles. H enry J. Kaiser - buried here. I never tire of this place. J ulia Morgan - buried here. K issing Peter DeMarr my sophomore year of high school. L ounging in the grass, reading the clouds. M illionaire's Row. N everending, scary subterranean tunnels. O lmsted, Frederick Law - designed the grounds. P eace and repose. Q uietly reading names. R refusing to accept the huge wreath of flowers that my ex-boyfriend stole from someone's grave. S hooting roll after roll of photos. T agging my name on the cement wall down by the lake. U ltimately realizing that life is fleeting. V ainly trying to capture the expression of Louisa's face. W hispering to the monuments. I was a creepy kid. X iphoid processes, buried forever. Y elling drunkenly when I got lost in the bushes. Z iggurats, obelisks, and pyramids. At the risk of sounding obscenely sentimental, I have over 20 years of memories of this place and I never tire of it. It is simply one of the most beautiful, peaceful places in Oakland - and the most amazing cemetery I have ever seen. read more

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Perhaps I am more morbid than the average person, but I like to visit cemetery's - especially beautiful ones like this! Not only are there interesting graves to check out while you're here, such as Elizabeth Short, aka, the Black Dhalia, a Jim Jones Massacre tribute tomb to the victims of Jonestown and Mac Dre... the cemetery has breath taking views of the city. There is a ton of different styles of tombs here, above and below ground. I actually went here the weekend of the Outside Lands Festival and ran into the artist Shaky Bones (how appropriate) while he was filming a short performance - so I lucked out. It was nice to have some background music while taking a stroll through here. There is joggers, people practicing Yoga, people walking their dogs, and people like me who are just there to check out the graves. This place would be a good picnic spot. I actually plan on returning soon. P.S. if you have a selfie stick this is an awesome photo opp! P.P.S. If I die in California, I hope my family can afford to bury me here. read more

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When I'm not feeling quite myself or out of touch, I realize a visit to my pop is long overdue. My dad, who died way too early in my life, is here and I can't think of a more beautiful, tranquil resting place. When I sit next to his grave and meditate, a calm, gentle wind will move over me and I can feel him with me. I am comforted that although he has vacated his body, he lives in spirit and in me. We have the same eyes. Ole Blue Eyes, they called him. I come here to contemplate and think he would be proud of me. Maybe not all my personal choices, but definitely of my academic and career accomplishments. I am thankful for the time I had with him, and for the presence of my stepfather to take care of my mother and who has accepted me as a daughter. read more

One of my favorite things to do every year is to drive through this F.L .Olmsted-designed jewel when the tulips are in bloom (generally early March). The older graves and crypts are a fascinating glimpse of bay area history, and the view from the heights is unsurpassed. Go, you'll thank me later...... read more

Recently my Uncle Passed and we selected Mountain View for his Burial. Now my Aunt paid over $25,000 for a crypt. The Person who we were Dealing with (Michael Tom) was so Disrespectful and very unprofessional. When we arrived to speak with him he was very Sharp in his words to Is and not once did he extend his condolences. When it was time to show us the crypt he told us No we couldn't get in the Cemetery Van and we had to Drive to it. When we got to the crypt he walked off and left us. Then on top of all that he kept calling my Aunt asking unnecessary questions about her Insurance Policy when in fact the Funeral Home CP Bannon never asked any questions. Michael Tom should never be Dealt with because he is a Down Right Racist,and Disrespectful when it comes to African Americans. Please understand Us his way of dealing with us was very degrading They receive zero stars read more

Have you ever jumped in your car with the intention of doing nothing but taking a drive and end up finding something that makes your eyes tear in response to the beauty you discovered? That's Mountain View Cemetery for me. Jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring, zen-provoking beauty. read more

Well you know I was practically a resident next door. I spent so much time at St. Mary's, I never really paid attention to MVC. That is until I moved to the Piedmont area and inherited a part time two year old. Now this little lad was no means little and he has a definite stubborn streak. Just not too long before, we spent the morning inside the Citibank because he was obsessed with the handicap button. Trust me, this guy can throw a tantrum of epic proportions. No playgrounds because it's nearly impossible to get him to leave without brute force and this kid is about at least a quarter of my size. One morning, while driving around trying to figure out where to take said little one and his sidekick the pug I thought about the water fountains here. We drove in through the front gate and I heard him say, "OHHHH!" I knew I had struck gold. The little guy spent the morning running around the tombstones chasing his old pug around until he was tired. Then we sat in front of the fountains and watched the water show until HE decided to go home. Back at home, I put him down without a fight. Best discovery ever! So, if you need a place for a rambunctious kid to play, the MVC is awesome and FREE! Sidenote: they have an annual pumpkin festival here. Who knew a cemetery would be so kid friendly? read more

Very beautiful cemetery. I attended a short guided tour by the visitor center and learned a lot about the layout, history, and "who's who" in the cemetery. It was a very interesting and enlightening tour. You can see the burial spots of the notables of the original settlers of San Francisco and the bay area here. The whole place is very Zen like and you can do a walking meditation here and the views are fantastic. Excellent parking. The only thing that was strange for me was that some visitors were using the cemetery as a jogging/ workout space and walking place for their animals. Some of them were jogging/walking on the cemetery plots and not on the cemented walkway and some of the animals were doing their"business" right on the plot. Outch! Not sure if the deceased or relatives of the deceased who purchased the spot at a price would appreciate the "secondary" use of the plots by the visitors and their pets. For me, this strange jogging/walking activities compromises the peace, quiet, tidyness, and original intent of the place - safe haven and refuge for the deceased and the relatives when they visit. Am not sure why management allows these workout activities. read more

amazing.gorgeous.mysterious.peaceful.prodigious. While you chill at the different view points, you feel like the world is yours!!! read more

Great place for the dead. Great place for the living to visit the dead. When you want your loved one's interment to have the most scenic resting place for eternity, this is where you should lay them to rest. Customer service is above and beyond. Grounds are kept well. Some of the most breath taking views in the world. You will pay higher prices, but its worth it. Its a little morbid, but if youre smart, you will have all this prepared well in advanced. Otherwise, like the running of the bulls and any other mortuary, you will be gouged when you need it the most. read more

GORGEOUS CEMETERY. You see a lot of people walking their dogs or just taking a walk for them selves around the establishment. It's beautiful. Hardly any trash or signs of disarray. They are currently doing some construction, but they definitely make everything else look beautiful in the meantime. read more

I am a fan of cemeteries for their history and architecture, and this cemetery is one of the most amazing I have ever visited. I could spend hours wandering around here, enjoying the quiet. It feels more like a beautiful park than a graveyard. As a future librarian, I was so excited to discover that Ina Coolbrith, Oakland's first librarian and all around hip lady, is buried here. (The disheveled and neglected parts of the cemetery make me really sad. I hope the park is working to restore these shabby sections.) read more

I thought I discovered a secret gem, but alas! Yelp proved that many people already love this place for other activities aside from its intended purposes. I drove by the park and love the fountains, the little hills, and the serenity of the architecturally rich mausoleums. You get a glimpse of the history through the last names too - you can find Shattuck, Bancroft, Kittredge, and various names that you may be familiar with if you frequent downtown Berkeley. I'd definitely drop by again! read more

When I want a good workout I go jogging here. I like to strap on my Ipod-min, and run around like I'm in a "Flock of Sea Gulls" or "Duran-Duran" Music Video--I tend to dance a lil when I run I guess. I recommend visiting this site in the late afternoons and early evenings during the summer--otherwise you'll see that its a fully functioning cemetery...kinda ruins my "New Wave 80's Play List". read more

I love cemeteries. I've never been creeped out by them (except for the one in my hometown of Arroyo Grande, which is flat and soulless and so non-creepy it's creepy -- you expect to see the geriatric deceased rising up out of the ground to complain their paper got stolen back in '71). But I love rambling in the good ones, trying to imagine the people who lie there, what they were like, what they said, who they loved. [Aside -- when I was about seven, riding in the good ole blue VW van sitting in the backseat, staring into other cars, I suddenly GOT it. I was completely overwhelmed as I realized that every other person that I saw, ALL of them, had inner lives as complex as mine. They felt the same way I did, hurt and laughed the same way, and up till that moment, they had only been backdrop for my young life. It freaked me right out.] Maybe that's why I like cemeteries so much. I realize that everyone buried there lived as I did, and they deserve to be thought of every once in a while, don't they? So I'm ashamed to say I lived for almost fifteen years in Oakland without ever going to Mountain View. It's stunning. It's an amazing place to walk dogs (or film your vampire movie! There's always someone there bleeding in costume). You can ramble for hours, poking around big crypts and crooked ones. My favorite areas are up on the east side, where the old group graves lie, plots of paupers and fallen women and children. The grass doesn't grow there because it's not really maintained anymore in that area, but there's a sense of peace that's just lovely. Also, I steal names like CRAZY for my books. Names I've stolen but haven't used yet: Henry Muskett, Minna Burgle, Erma Pearl, Willie Ankers, Daisy Strippel. You see what I mean. My other favorite part is right up top. Go up, up, up, until the grass starts to grow long and there's absolutely nothing to impede your view of the whole of Oakland, the sparkling bay, San Francisco glinting in the distance. I've told my family that when I kick it, they should bring my ashes here on a sunny day and have a picnic. (If management asks, I'M TOTALLY KIDDING WE WOULD NEVER EVER DO THAT, HIGHLY ILLEGAL OF COURSE.) Toss me into the overgrowth (pocketing a tiny bit to toss in Venice, of course) where I can see the bay where we put my mother to rest, the bay we swam in as children, the bay my family has always loved. read more

Why, this cemetery is good enough for a poke... a poke through while on a walk, a jog, a walk/jog (like to call this "interval training" to ensure that it sounds hardcore), a meandering, or a stroll. I realize at least three of those are almost the same thing. But each one feels different when wandering through this peaceful place. There's always a new interesting name to discover on a gravestone, or a new panoramic view of the bay each time I wander through. This place is old, beautiful, labyrinthine and gigantic! On my last hike through the joint, I actually stumbled across a black cat (to be fair, in the sun he was more of a dark brown cat) roaming around the graves. If I were the superstitious type, I'd have decided then and there to live life to the fullest Queen Latifah style to prepare for my impending doom. But in reality, I rationalized that the cat was fairly innocuous and possessed little or possibly no supernatural ability to ruin the lives of humans it happens across, even in spite of its place of residence. Still, it was a pretty neat cliché to have fulfilled at least once in my life. I know I have an uncle resting here, but I've never visited his gravestone because this place is so massive I wouldn't know where to look. I'll probably figure it out at some point. For now, I like visiting the place as a collective whole anyway, without a specific mission in mind. Each visit is unique and satisfying. read more

I would give 0 stars if I could. My dad passed early this year and I went to this place to purchase a niche since my other relatives are also rested here and I spoke to Candy, one of the Chinese reps there and she literally threw a measuring tape on the table and told me to go measure the niche myself. I needed to know the dimensions so I can buy an urn. It is appalling to be treated like that when they charge an arm and an leg for just a space in their mausoleum. Not only that I had to drop off my dad's pictures in a frame to put inside the niche and had to communicate via email with their manager and she took 7 days to respond one time. And the pic inside the frame was crooked so I asked her to fix it, but she threw back at me, "I have a suggestion, why don't you come fix it yourself once the place is open again" due to Covid. She said she was going to let me know, she never called me or followed up. 8 mos later I called her to let her know I'll be coming and is the place open. She said I can come by and her worker opened the niche for me but wouldn't let me fix the picture myself. He didn't get what I was saying, probably language barrier. He shifted the pictures frames around and accidentally knocked off one of the picture frame and the glass broke! Not only that, the metal ring to hold flowers weren't even installed!!! The service I received is utter disgrace and disgusting! It's already hard enough to lose someone then to deal with these heartless people. Then I called Kristy, the manager and told her I'll come next Saturday to drop off the frame, I even emailed her prior. As guessed, she never replied. I called before I went and I was told she's not in the office. I was like WTF?!?! I am so mad. I'm so done with these people. I wish I can report them or sue them or something. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!! read more

I love this place. Yes, it is a cemetery. Yes, I come here for fun. No, I am not some weirdo. It is tranquil and beautiful and is so interesting to me. I love walking around the grounds and looking at the headstones and wondering about all these people who remain at peace here. There is a lot of history here. This place is also amazingly huge, it seems like the road go on and on forever. There are some breathtaking views to be had here. If you need to get away from the hustle and the bustle, take a walk through the windy little roads here and let your stress fall away. I like to think of this as my *spiritual place. *No, I am not a hippie. read more

Great hangout spot. The top has a great view of the Bay, which is gorgeous at any time of day. I come here to do homework, hang out with friends, or just chill by myself and relax. Crocker's huge phallic grave is a great place to do this; it's got the best view of the Bay and is constructed complete with stairs, a tiny lawn, and some benches. Plus, if you're too lazy to walk all the way to the top, it's right off the road (seriously -- about 10 feet). Don't worry about getting in or out after dark -- the fence is laughably easy to walk past. There's a huge gap between the wall and the gate. No squeezing through required, and don't flip out about getting caught either. There is absolutely no security, and the view of the Bay at night is gorgeous. This is my favorite spot to observe the fireworks on the 4th of July. You can see the San Francisco, Oakland Coliseum, Jack London, Berkeley, and Alameda fireworks shows all at once, not to mention all the illegal fireworks people are setting off. Plus, the cemetery itself is beautiful, and it's right near a whole mess of good restaurants on Piedmont Ave. read more

This review is for Mountain View Cemetery as a wedding venue. Confused? Surprised? Read on. My husband and I had always loved the Gothic chapel and the Tower chapel inside the cemetery. The brick and iron work, the coved ceilings and stained glass, they are both breathtaking buildings. So when he proposed in front of the Gothic chapel we knew we wanted to get married there. We worked with Doreen who was amazingly helpful and accommodating. We were their second wedding on the grounds (it's a new service they provide) and she was willing to give us access to the chapel to rehearse, decorate, and show to as many family members who wanted to check it out before the wedding as needed (and to get Grandma's OK on getting married in a cemetery, that's kind of a must). We were able to rearrange the inside of the chapel as we saw fit (remove a few pews, hide the cross for our non-religious ceremony, bring our own flowers, etc.) the rental price was very reasonable and they gave us the option of bring our own music or providing us with an organ player (!!!). Parking was easy and free for guests, the small building (capacity of about 120) was perfect for our intimate wedding and my ladies and I were given a private room across the courtyard to finish getting ready and for me to do a shot or two with my Dad before we walked down the aisle (whats a wedding without a flask?) Everything about the venue and the day at large was perfect. The grounds made for the most amazing photos and all our guests loved the history and the neighborhood. I would absolutely recommend to anyone who wants a beautiful if slightly off beat venue for their wedding to check out Mountain View Cemetery. read more

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My mom used to take me on picnics here when I was growing up. Ever since then I come to Mountain View at least once a week! Through rain and sun and fat squirrels trying to steal my sandwich, I love the peaceful and aesthetically beautiful views. I know this cemetery inside and out, I am never bored. There is always something new to see! Great place to come and be alone with nature, in an urban city! Great place for walking your pets and exercise! Great place to have a picnic, but please don't feed the animals! And also a GREAT place to learn how to drive! If I could pick anything, anything at all as my favorite thing about Mountain View cemetery is would be the view from millionaires' row. That view looking down at Oakland & SF still takes my breath away. Through out the years there have been many improvements, and still more to come {hopefully}. The best times to come and visit is REALLY early 7am, when there isn't a single person, but many souls about. Or around 2pm when the fountains are still going and you have enough time to enjoy the sun and nature; or my personal favorite time, Sunset. Beware of the Deer! They are beautiful but will attack if you come to close to their babies! If you do visit please have respect for those who are at rest here! read more

This location blows my mind. Wind your way up the hill and you'll find yourself looking at the best view of the Bay that you'll find in Oakland. I came here as a client request as a Motherhood Session. This is their place to be and it brings peace to the Mama. At first I was unsure to photograph here but I quickly found it a place where many people come to enjoy and watch the sunset. So happy to have found it. read more

Odd name for being located at the end of Piedmont Ave. No I'm not going to research into that mystery. It shall remain, a mystery....muahahahahaha I like roaming around cemeteries. This one has especially beautiful views if you climb to the top of the hill. I've housesat nearby and it was my running route for a few days. It's a well kept green space that you are free to roam around and explore. Then sod off down the road to the tiki bar. read more

Oh the magik that's been hatched in you! I've fond memories of leaving eggs behind hearing footsteps follow Divine. The ladies and I cloaked out of sight, singing seances until the ancestors ignite! Revering long forgotten graves on which crows perch, clearing their debris for a baby's wailing rebirth! Mountain View Cemetery I do, I do, I do adore the magik that's been hatched in you! read more

I love this cemetary, the grounds are just beaufiful. Its very serene. I have never taken a tour here but i actually saw one for the first time this past weekend. Millionaire's row is beautiful and its so easy to get some great pictures here. I finally found Elizabeth Short's (Black Dahlia) grave (wasnt that easy to find). By contrast to poor St. Mary's next door MVC is really well kept!! The mausoleums are awesome and the buildings are gorgeous, almost regal. Its easy to spend half a day here. read more

A very large and beautiful setting in the Oakland Hills. At the same time it can feel creepy and spooky because of it's vast size. I ran into this place by accident as a bunch of friends and I were actually looking for Fenton's Ice Cream and we made a wrong turn into the cemetery. At first I was scared to proceed, but the more we drove further in, the more curious we got. The funny thing about this place is that there are a bunch of people walking, some with baby strollers, and dogs. Some joggers too running through the place. I guess I have one of those fears of cemeteries where I just didn't get all the people hanging out in there. Many great masoleums and tombstones here. And in some areas, signs of neglect (weeds, vandalized tombstones). The creepiest part of the place was this area that was signed "The unendowed area" The road suddenly hits a dead end and the road was so narrow that it takes almost 5 minutes to turn the car around (at the same time you have to be careful not to let the car fall in the ditches on the side!) Man!! I can imagine getting easily lost in this humongous place. Being the coward that I am, I won't even try to come here by myself. read more

My final wishes are to be cremated and my ashes flown to the Big Island (via helicopter) and spread over South Point to the tune of "Against All Odds". Yes, I know, Phil Collins, but this was one of my favorite songs growing up (at least I'm not choosing Air Supply). However, if I decide my ashes should be placed in an urn and subsequently stored in a columbarium, then my first choice shall be MVC. Recently, I mourned the loss of J's relative whose ashes were interred at MVC. I was impressed with the materials used to construct the columbarium...(limestone/marble?). The family was allowed to conduct a "placement" ceremony with relatives & music. The compartment (with a tastefully engraved door that is bolted on) itself is large enough for 4 to 6 small/medium sized urns and several framed photos. There is a 5% discount if you pay the entire cost (between $5K to $6K) and there is an annual maintenance fee, but the quality of the service, attention to the grounds and impressive construction of the columbarium itself makes it worthwhile. read more

It's kind of sad that the only usable green space within walking distance of Temescal is a cemetery but HEY it sure is nice! Walk all the way up to the top, and there's the Golden Gate. Wander off into the east side of it and look at all the really old crumbling stones for some interesting history. If it's rainy out, go inside the columbarium which is like Hogwarts but for boxes of ashes. Awesome! read more

A friend recommended that we check out this cemetery for its Christmas light display last night. It sounded so odd that we HAD to check it out. The "Circle of Lights" display runs from Dec 1 until New Year's from 5-9pm and is beaaautiful! A sign indicates that you can tune your radio to a particular frequency for Christmas songs to get the full effect, so we did. There are decorative trees, a train in lights, a family in lights, and other stuff, including penguins. It left me grinning and wanting to put up more lights at home. Craig mentioned that he would have loved it as a kid, but I think we can both admit that even as adults, we loved it. read more

I've enjoyed going to cemeteries every since I was a little kid, the older the cemetery, the better. I like seeing the old gravestones and mausoleums. There's a graveyard near my sister's house in a tiny town in Vermont that has graves from the early 1800's. We've also gone to grave yards in Deadwood, Tombstone, Carson City, Pacific Grove, Calvary Cemetery in Queens, Baltimore (Edgar Allen Poe, anyone?), Boston, Cape Cod - you name it. I've always believe that you can tell the history of a city by its graveyards. Mountain View is right in my 'hood, and I always enjoy a stroll through there. It's huge, and filled with amazing mausoleums, beautiful buildings designed by Julia Morgan, and some heartrending inscriptions on the graves. Every March the tulips are in bloom, and make an already beautiful and peaceful setting even better. We try to honor those who are there, and say a prayer or two while visiting. Whenever I'm back in NY I visit my mother's grave at Pinelawn. The inscription on her tombstone is plain and matter of fact, since it's a military cemetery. I wish we could change the inscription to say how much we loved her, and how much my dad and her four daughters still miss her, so many years later. I hope people who visit Pinelawn for a casual stroll, much as I visit Mountain View, might also say a prayer for my mother. read more

Wow, this is one beautiful place. And it's a cemetery! Gorgeous winding paths, landscaping, trees and buildings. Weird, but it's a really happy and restful (haha) feeling place. And I found a headstone of some dude that was buried there in 1881 under a redwood tree randomly off to the side where there was only one other marker in a big grassy and untouched stretch of land. We brought Dango in for a walk and he loved it here, running like a maniac in the grass! Have you seen a three legged dog run like crazy? It's pretty entertaining. read more

I taught my brother to drive stick in this cemetery, because, as my mother said at the time, "You can't kill anyone if they're all already dead." He still comes here all the time just to sit and think, and while I tend to go for more nature-y thinking spots, the views from Mountain View Cemetery are some of the most spectacular in the East Bay (on par with Indian Rock). Warning: breathtaking views in a cemetery often lead to long and intense conversations about the meaning of life. The Christmas lights are also a fun excursion for families. It's one of the most peaceful, lovely places to be as a living person, something that can't be said of many of the cemeteries I've visited, which have sometimes given me a strange sensation of claustrophobia. read more

First off, everyone at the office is super nice and attentive! Once a year a tour called "Food Mavericks and Literacy Lions" is held. Don't miss it! FREE knowledge, food, drinks, literature and humour. There are other special tours too! And BEST of all is they're ALL FREE!!! My group had 15 people. The total head count was around 65. The docents are really good at giving the tours. Jane is hilarious! The cemetery is a beautiful place for a solo walk too. Btw, the tour is 2 hours but you leave any time and it's an easy slow hike. read more

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