Since 1869, Mount Hope Cemetery has been providing all San Diego citizens interment options at a reasonable cost. The beautiful grounds and rolling hills of Mount Hope Cemetery contain historically significant monuments to some of San Diego's most notable citizens.

Throughout the years original portions of Mount Hope Cemetery have been combined with other burial areas originally designated for the International Order of Foresters, Masonic Lodge, Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the County of San Diego Indigent Burial Program. In February 1973 a Veteran's Section in the newer area of the cemetery was dedicated in honor of all San Diego veterans. The combined cemetery now has a total of 110 usable acres, only 80 acres are in use at this time with over 76,000 interments made.

In 1869, a citizen committee was formed and given the task of establishing a new, municipal cemetery for San Diego. Earlier municipal cemeteries located near the area of Presidio Park and El Campo Santo in Old Town no longer met the needs of the growing community. Mount Hope Cemetery was selected by the committee and opened in 1871. The committee was led by Alonzo Horton, who is widely regarded as the father of modern San Diego. It is fitting, therefore, that Horton is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Other notable San Diego citizens buried at Mount Hope Cemetery include Elisha Babcock, builder of the Hotel del Coronado; Dr. Charles Merwin Fenn, a founding member of the San Diego Medical Society; Gertrude Gilbert, who was instrumental in saving the exposition buildings in Balboa Park; Nathan Harrison, an early pioneer in the region; Kate Morgan, reputedly the resident ghost at the Hotel del Coronado; merchant George W. Marston, who was involved with establishing Balboa Park, the San Diego Public Library and the Serra Museum; Ah Quinn, a merchant, farmer and leader in the Chinese Mission; and Kate Sessions, San Diego's pioneering horticulturist.

Other prominent individuals buried at Mount Hope Cemetery are Gustaf Kletus Akerlundh, who was a member of Capt. Roald Amundsen's 1903 expedition to the magnetic north pole; Sam Brannan, an early Mormon pioneer and member of San Francisco's first city council; Raymond Chandler, the novelist who created detective Philip Marlow; Ervin "Big Boy" Groves, R&B singer and composer; and Alta M. Hulett, the first female attorney in the state of Illinois. Mount Hope is also the final resting place for six San Diego mayors, including Matthew Sherman, who developed the Sherman Heights community; and California Gov. Robert Waterman.

For more information, please see San Diego Cemeteries: A Brief Guide and scroll down to Mount Hope.

You can also view the digital archives of Mount Hope Cemetery on the City Clerk's Office website.

The City of San Diego manages and maintains the entire cemetery, providing perpetual care to all burial sites. Burial lots are available in both newly available sections as well as the older sections. The older sections allow either flat or upright grave markers while in the newer sections only flat grave markers may be used. Please contact the Business Office at 619-527-3400 if you would like to obtain more details regarding the availability of burial lots, pricing information, or fee waiver program.

Mount Hope Cemetery is conveniently located near downtown at 3751 Market St., San Diego, CA 92102.

The grounds are open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Business Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Burial lots are available. Please contact the Business Office at 619-527-3400 for details on burial lots as well as information on pricing and payment plans and fee waiver program.

Please contact the Business Office at 619-527-3400 to obtain burial record information.