A place of family tradition …
Nestled below the picturesque San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena, we are a location unmatched in Southern California. We are one of the few remaining family-operated cemetery/mortuary properties in the area. Our tradition of service was established in the nineteenth century, yet offers the full personalized service made available by today’s technology. We invite you to visit our grounds 365 days a year, from 8am to 5pm. Professional funeral staff is available 24 hours a day.
Resting here at Mountain View Cemetery are the remains of Pasadena’s pioneer families, California statesmen, and other historically significant personalities. At Heritage Circle, you will find the graves of former Governor of California Henry H. Markham and his wife, the Hollingsworth monument, and the Giddings family monument.
As was the custom in frontier days, residents of Pasadena buried their loved ones on family property. Colonel Jabez Banbury’s son, Charles, and others like Laura Giddings, were buried on land that lay along the Arroyo Seco, now part of the Wrigley Estate. Colonel Banbury decided to sell his property in 1882, which prompted Mr. Giddings to set aside some of his own property to be dedicated as a cemetery.
During 1883, 24 burials were moved to the newly established cemetery on Fair Oaks Avenue. Today, after more than 100 years, the descendants of Levi W. Giddings still operate the Cemetery, Mortuary, and Crematory.
Through the years, Mountain View acquired nearby mausoleums. Mountain View Mausoleum, located on Marengo Avenue, was considered the crown jewel of the more than 80 mausoleums constructed by Cecil E. Bryan. Its features include the modern New Radiance Corridor and Chapel of the Gardens, along with extensive stained glass installations created by the Judson Studios of Los Angeles, CA.
In addition, Pasadena Mausoleum was acquired and expanded to feature an open-air section and Sunrise Chapel. Both mausoleums offer the finest in burial crypts, niches, and Westminster crypts. Mountain View is also known for its art collection and arboretum-style grounds featuring trees from all over the world.