Catacombs
Cypress Lawn Memorial Park
Colma, California

Cypress Lawn Memorial Park opened in 1892. Civil War veteran and wealthy businessman Hamden H. Noble founded the nonsectarian cemetery and is said to be largely responsible for its original design. Defined as an underground cemetery consisting of chambers or tunnels with recesses for graves, the Catacombs were constructed in several phases beginning in 1914 and continuing to the present. The structure is one of the earliest public catacomb buildings in California.

ARG prepared an inventory of the catacomb structure to gain a better understanding of its history and significance and to document and evaluate the condition of the building’s historic architectural features. Portions of the building are in poor condition, with materials visibly deteriorating and in need of general rehabilitation and restoration. The inventory information will serve as a guide for the implementation of conservation, maintenance, and programmatic decisions for the structure.

For more information on Cypress Lawn, visit www.cypresslawn.com.