Most people see a golf course when they look at Lincoln Park. What they don’t see are the thousands of graves that once covered these hills. This stretch of land along San Francisco’s northwest edge wasn’t always a place for golf swings and ocean views—it was where the city buried its dead.

Back in the 1800s, this area held cemeteries for Civil War soldiers, immigrants, and those too poor to afford a private plot. But as San Francisco grew, the living needed space more than the dead. By the early 1900s, laws forced the removal of cemeteries from city limits, and nearly all the bodies were dug up and moved to Colma, now packed with graveyards.

Not everyone made the trip, though. Workers clearing the land missed countless graves, and over the years, bones and coffins have turned up during construction or even routine maintenance. Golfers might not realize it, but they’re playing over what was left behind.

One quiet reminder still stands: a small stone structure near the 14th hole, all that remains of a Chinese burial ground. It’s easy to miss, just like the history underfoot. The city moved on, built fairways and trails, and most visitors never think about who might still be buried here.

Next time you walk these greens, take a closer look. The past isn’t as distant as it seems.

Bet you didn’t know that… or maybe you did.

ALEXANDER CLARK

Founder | theFrontSteps Real Estate

DRE# 01339386
415-254-5351
alex@thefrontsteps.com
www.thefrontsteps.com

Richmond Resident & Local Real Estate Expert