Did you know Mount Hope Cemetery is the only active City-owned and operated cemetery? Among the many cemeteries in San Diego, it serves as the final resting place for some of the region’s most notable citizens. Mount Hope Cemetery was first envisioned in 1869 to meet the needs of the fast-growing community and officially opened in 1871.

Several well-known names in San Diego’s history are buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, including George W. Marston, Kate Sessions, Elisha Babcock, Nathan Harrison, Ah Quinn, and Alonzo Horton – the City’s “father” who was tasked with leading the committee that created the cemetery.

On Oct. 7, 2024, architect Irving Gill joined the ranks of notable citizens to be buried in Mount Hope Cemetery. Given that he passed away in 1936, why did it take 88 years for him to find his way to his final resting place?

According to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) San Diego, it turns out that Gill’s remains were simply misplaced for over 80 years, thought to have been scattered by his wife. But they actually were never picked up post-cremation.

Gill’s innovative designs are said by many in the architecture field to have laid the foundation for Modern architecture in Southern California and beyond. He designed numerous well-known structures throughout San Diego, many of them still standing today including the La Jolla Recreation Center.

Later in life, Gill lived with his wife on their ranch in Carlsbad, and he continued working on architectural projects until he had a serious heart attack and died on Oct. 7, 1936. Gill was cremated the very next day and, according to AIA, his ashes were placed in a temporary cardboard box at Cypress View Mortuary, marked "Hold" for a family member to retrieve.  

It wasn’t until 2022 that it was discovered that Gill’s ashes never left Cypress View Mortuary, which is located adjacent to Mount Hope Cemetery. The box had never been picked up. 

Members of the Irving J. Gill Foundation searched for descendants but were unsuccessful, leading to a petition to the County of San Diego to release the remains, which was granted. And so, exactly 88 years after his death, on Oct. 7, 2024, Gill’s remains were buried in a small plot at Mount Hope Cemetery, with a crowd of nearly 100 community members in attendance to pay their respects.

As the final resting place for Gill and so many other notable San Diegans, Mount Hope also includes burial areas that were originally designated for the International Order of Foresters, Masonic Lodge, Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the County of San Diego Indigent Burial Program. 

In February 1973, a Veteran's Section was dedicated in honor of all San Diego veterans. The cemetery now spans 110 usable acres, with 80 acres currently in use and over 76,000 interments, nestled among beautiful grounds and rolling hills.

For more information about the Mount Hope Burial Registry from 1868-1970, visit the San Diego City Clerk’s Digital Archives.

Mount Hope Cemetery is located at 3751 Market St., and the grounds are open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Burial lots are currently available. For detailed information on availability, pricing, payment plans, and the fee waiver program, visit the Mount Hope Cemetery website or contact the Business Office at 619-527-3400.