Oakland's Mountain View Cemetery is a sprawling hillside landscape with sweeping views of the bay. It's also a free history lesson, if you go with a docent.
An early Olmsted design
The National Park Service says Oakland's most prominent citizens founded the cemetery in 1863 and asked Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of New York's Central Park, to plan it. It was his first work in California. He drew his initial plan in 1864 and refined it over the next two years, lining curving uphill paths with drought-resistant plants that open up views of the bay while screening the grounds from heavy winds. The grounds have grown from 209 acres to more than 226.
Who's buried there
The cemetery's tour page names railroad builder Charles Crocker, Yosemite landscape painter Thomas Hill and Hearst Castle architect Julia Morgan.
Free docent tours
Docent tours start at 10 a.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month and last about two hours, according to the cemetery. No RSVP is needed. Meet in front of the main administrative office 10 to 15 minutes early and wear comfortable walking shoes. The rest of the 2026 schedule:
- Sat., Nov. 14, 10 a.m.: specialty "Mayor's Tour" with docents Michael Colbruno and Dennis Evanosky.
- Sat., Dec. 12, 10 a.m.: "Exploring Mountain View Cemetery," docent to be announced.
- Sat., Dec. 26, 10 a.m.: specialty "Founder's Day" tour with Colbruno and Evanosky.
The schedule can change, so check the cemetery's tour page before you go. It's an active cemetery, so be respectful of services and mourners.
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