History of Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary

November 16, 2021 11:30 AM
by Patrick Hayden

Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary has been serving the community for over 100 years. It is wholly owned and operated by the City of Santa Monica - one of the few municipally-owned cemeteries and mortuaries in California. Juan Carrillo, a member of one of Santa Monica’s founding families, deeded the cemetery to the city in 1897.  The City purchased the mausoleum in 1976. Situated on 26 acres in the heart of Santa Monica, Woodlawn is considered one of the city’s most important historical resources.

The Mausoleum, centered within the cemetery grounds, captures the architecture of early Spanish California. Built in the late 1920s, it is one of the first public mausoleums constructed in California. The corridors feature exquisite, imported marble and granite from Italy. The mausoleum’s magnificent stained-glass windows are breathtaking. The rotunda walls of the Mausoleum are adorned with large colorful tapestries that were painted by famous artist Hugo Ballin, who is interred here at Woodlawn Cemetery.  Just beyond the Mausoleum’s Southside Entrance stands the Commemorative Wall.  Built in 2014, the memorial recognizes Santa Monicans who served in one of the country’s military branches and who perished while on active duty during wartime.

Woodlawn was officially designated a Monarch butterfly habitat in 2015 by Monarch Watch, the leading conservation organization for the endangered butterfly.  In 2016, Woodlawn became one of three cemeteries in Southern California to offer green/natural burial when it added Eternal Meadow.  With green/natural burial, only decomposable materials such as wood or wicker caskets with no metals, organic burial shrouds, or biodegradable urns are used.  No embalming fluid which contains toxic substances like formaldehyde is used, and there are no cement vaults.  Eternal Meadow is composed of native California grasses and wildflowers, providing habitat for native birds and pollinator insects like the Monarch butterfly.  Green burial nurtures the growth cycles of the Meadow, fosters a greater union with nature, and is a meaningful way to honor the life of a loved one.

In addition to its unique features, Woodlawn is the eternal home of nationally known persons such as astronaut Sally Ride, cosmetics guru Merle Norman, and political activist and California State Senator Tom Hayden.  Top Hollywood actors laid to rest at Woodlawn include Glenn Ford (Superman, The Big Heat, and The Blackboard Jungle); Irene Ryan (The Beverly Hillbillies); Harvey Korman (The Carol Burnett Show); Barbara Billingsley (Leave It to Beaver); Hal Smith (The Andy Griffith Show); Ted Bessell (That Girl); Doug McClure (The Virginians); and Paul Henreid (Casablanca).  Local notables interred here include Abbot Kinney, the founder of Venice; California State Assemblyman Jesse Unruh; Santa Monica Mayor and City Councilmember Christine Reed; Santa Monica City Councilmembers John Bohn and Robert Holbrook, and Juan Carrillo and his son, Leo Carrillo, a preservationist and actor best known for his role as Pancho on The Cisco Kid.

Woodlawn is the final resting place of more than 54,000 people.  Even under the most difficult circumstances, families find that Woodlawn is a pleasant place to reflect and honor loved ones.  Whether you are here to celebrate life through one of our special programs, are ready to plan for your future, or have lost a loved one and are in a time of need, Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary is here for you.  

 

Authored By

Patrick Hayden
Administrative Analyst