Angelus Rosendale Cemetery

Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, located at 1831 West Washington Boulevard in the historic West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles, stands as one of the city's most venerable and culturally significant burial grounds. Founded in 1884 as Rosedale Cemetery, when Los Angeles had a population of roughly 28,000, the cemetery originally encompassed 65 acres stretching from Washington to Venice Boulevard between Normandie Avenue and Walton and Catalina Streets. It holds the distinction of being the first cemetery in Los Angeles open to all races and creeds, and it pioneered the lawn cemetery design concept in the region—a style that emphasizes landscaped beauty with trees, shrubs, flowers, and monumental art to create a peaceful, park-like atmosphere for remembrance. In 1887, Rosedale opened the second crematory in the United States and the first west of the Rocky Mountains, performing its initial cremation on June 16, 1887, for Mrs. Olive A. Bird. By 1913, over 2,392 cremations had taken place here. In 1993, the cemetery was acquired by Angelus Funeral Home on Crenshaw Boulevard and renamed Angelus Rosedale Cemetery. Today, the grounds offer a range of burial options, including traditional in-ground plots, mausoleum entombment, and unique pyramid crypts. The adjacent Chapel of the Pines Crematory, with its distinctive domed observatory-shaped structure, continues to serve families with dignified cremation services. The cemetery is wheelchair accessible, with accessible entrances and parking. Angelus Rosedale is the final resting place for many notable individuals who shaped Los Angeles and American history, including mayors George Alexander and Arthur C. Harper; financier Phineas Banning, known as the "Father of the Port of Los Angeles"; pioneer dentist and land developer David Burbank; Medal of Honor recipients Edward L. Baker Jr., Emmer Bowen, and William B. Mayes; jazz legend Eric Dolphy; champion boxer Henry Armstrong; actors Tod Browing, Fernando Lamas, and Willie Fung; and civil rights activist Sadie Chandler Cole. The cemetery also hosts annual "Living History Tours" in partnership with the West Adams Heritage Association, where actors portray historical figures interred there. Open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, Angelus Rosedale Cemetery remains a serene sanctuary honoring Los Angeles's diverse heritage while providing compassionate care to families in their time of need.