San Francisco Columbarium

The San Francisco Columbarium and Funeral Home is owned and operated by Dignity Memorial. For more than a century they have been the last remaining nondenominational place within San Francisco to memorialize loved ones. They offer Veteran’s services and they are multilingual. They are also an architectural gem, built by British architect Bernard Cahill and opened in 1898.

For all my ghouls who love a good ghost story, this place has a couple. The most popular is the Little Ghost Girl, nicknamed Little Viola, some say she died during the 1906 earthquake. Visitors of the Columbarium have reported hearing giggling, her footsteps and even feeling her cold touch. A light is reportedly kept on for her in a specific niche because she was afraid of the dark. A lady in victorian clothing who appears in the upper galleries. She has been seen not only by staff members but even visitors during official tours. They say she is typically walking slowly along the upper floors, pausing occasionally to look at a specific niches as if visiting someone she knew.

People have also claimed to hear voices and seeing objects move. If you ever visit the Rotunda of the Columbarium keep your ears open because you may hear more than just echoes. They say you can hear whispered conversation when the building is empty, like the sound of someone calling a name, or soft crying that seems to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. While objects are being rearranged, photographs turned in different directions.

There are a lot more stories to tell, but if you are interested and have time go visit. The architecture is stunning and you never know. You may experience something while you’re there.

-Dezi