History
The Columbarium was once part of the Odd Fellows Cemetery, which encompassed approximately 167 acres (68 ha). It was built to complement an existing crematorium designed by Cahill in 1895.
In 1902 the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance to prohibit the sale of cemetery lots or permit any further burials within the city. By late 1910, cremation was also prohibited. The Odd Fellows, forced to abandon their cemetery, established Green Lawn Cemetery in Colma. Transfer of bodies began in 1929 and many families also chose to remove their urns from the Columbarium. The crematorium and various mausoleums were demolished, and many of the headstones were used to build a seawall at Aquatic Park. Only the Columbarium remained.
After a time, the Columbarium was sold to the Bay Cities Cemetery Association and later to Cypress Abbey. As it passed from one organization to another it fell into disrepair. In 1980, the Neptune Society of Northern California bought it and began restoration.
In 1996, the building was added to the register of San Francisco Designated Landmarks.
Read more about this topic: Neptune Society Columbarium
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