Historical Nuggets 5: Mountain View Cemetery
Years ago, I was introduced to “cemetery walks” by my wife, Sonia. At first, I thought it rather ghoulish, until she taught me that many cemeteries were planned specifically for the living as much as memorials for the dead. One of the most beautiful of these is right here in Oakland.
Dedicated on May 25, 1865, Mountain View Cemetery was designed by the esteemed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead. Responsible for New York City’s Central Park, he also was distinguished for his work on the Capitol Grounds in Washington, D.C., Stanford University and Yosemite National Park.
Olmstead’s concept for Mountain View was to show the harmony and relationship of man and nature. His use of the site maximized a panoramic San Francisco Bay view. Native oaks and other trees, winding, wide avenues and stately monuments make it a nature lover’s destination. Local residents come here to experience the serenity, walk their dogs, and jog, just as they would in more “conventional” parks.
Mountain View also sees visitors from all over the world who come to view the grounds and monuments of the famous. Among those buried here are Charles Crocker, founder of Southern Pacific Railroad and Crocker Bank; Henry J. Kaiser, steel, aluminum magnate and shipbuilder; Julia Morgan, Hearst Castle architect; J.A. Folger, founder of Folger’s coffee and Francis Marion Smith, the “Borax King.”
The cemetery offers docent-led tours twice a month and various events throughout the year, such as the wonderful outdoor tulip display and indoor Flower Show in early Spring, or the Pumpkin Festival in late October (this year, it is being held on Oct. 25th).
You can purchase an excellent and well-researched book, “Mountain View Cemetery,” by Dennis Evanosky.