Choosing a final resting place for yourself or a loved one is an important decision, as family and loved ones can return to pay tribute for years to come. At Cypress Lawn, our experienced staff members serve families in San Francisco and the Bay Area with high-quality funeral, cremation, and burial services. We are proud of our 65-acre Memorial Park, which features an internationally recognized Arboretum and Botanical Garden, and our Cypress Lawn Mausoleum, which is home to an impressive collection of gorgeous stained glass, including 36,000 square feet of windows and domed stained-glass ceilings.
History of Our Stained-Glass Collection
In 1906, Cypress Lawn founder Hamden Holmes Noble hired Bernard Cahill, an esteemed architect, to redesign parts of the Cypress Lawn offices, which had been destroyed by the San Francisco earthquake of the same year. Cahill was experienced in mausoleum design and mortuary architecture and believed that spaces honoring deceased loved ones should feature light and color as a comfort to the living. None of the stained glass at Cypress Lawn includes ecclesiastical symbolism, which delivers a non-sectarian experience to all visitors to the space.
The Beauty of Our Stained-Glass Collection
Cypress Lawn is proud to be home to one of the largest stained-glass collections in North America. Across all our stained glass, you’ll find vibrant colors and elaborate designs. Contrasting hues make for a dramatic effect, whether you visit Cypress Lawn on a sunny or cloudy day. Some of the most stunning pieces can be found in our mausoleum, which features high domed ceilings crafted from stained glass. As visitors walk past bronze cremation niches, they’ll be strolling under mesmerizing kaleidoscopes of colorful glass. Our historic Tiffany Chapel boasts expertly crafted stained-glass windows that create a decorative environment for a loved one’s memorial service. It’s a peaceful and elegant place to pay tribute to a loved one.
If you’d like to schedule a tour of our chapels, mausoleum, or sweeping grounds, contact our staff anytime. We also offer docent-led trolley tours where visitors can learn about the history of Cypress Lawn throughout the year, rain or shine. The trolley crosses all three of our campuses, so you’ll have the chance to experience all the beauty of Cypress Lawn!