California Cemetery Tours

Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland

This place is so interesting (it dates from the 1860s) and popular that they offer tours twice a month, all year round.

Woodland City Cemetery

Once a year in early September, costumed characters bring the local cemetery back to "life." It's part of the city's annual Stroll Through History.

Cypress Lawn Cemetery, Colma

A late 19th Century cemetery full of spectacular angels, over-the-top mausoleums, just south of San Francisco - and the last resting place of famous, infamous and just plain interesting San Franciscans. Guided walking tours given every third Saturday of the month.

Old City Cemetery, Sacramento

Sacramento mayors, California governors, Civil War Veterans and victims of the 1850 Cholera Epidemic are only a few of the folks interred here and they offer plenty of guided tours so you can learn all about them. In late October, their Lantern Tours raise lots of money, selling out well in advance.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles

The last resting place of many famous stars and film makers hosts the Los Angeles Day of the Dead celebration (late October). Otherwise, you can take a regular tour a couple of times a month.

Long Beach Municipal and Sunnyside Cemeteries

On Halloween night, the Long Beach Historical Society hosts tours of the city's oldest resting grounds, where (as they say) "every plot has a story," retold by costumed docents.