Oak Hill Memorial Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Oak Hill Memorial Park

Oak Hill Mausoleum
Details
Established	1847
Location	San Jose, California
Country	United States

Oak Hill Memorial Park is a large cemetery located in San Jose, California. It is a place where people are buried and remembered. This cemetery is quite old, opening in 1847.

It holds a special record as the oldest secular cemetery still operating in California. "Secular" means it's not connected to any specific church or religion. It was established one year before the famous California Gold Rush began. As of 2014, more than 15,000 people have been laid to rest here.

Who is Buried at Oak Hill?

Many interesting people are buried at Oak Hill Memorial Park. They include writers, athletes, and important leaders from California's past.

Writers and Artists

• Richard Amory (1927–1981): An author known for his book Song of the Loon.
• Elizabeth Eleanor D’Arcy Gaw (1868–1944): A talented artist.
• Benjamin Raborg (1871–1918): Another American artist.

Sports Stars

• Frank Arellanes (1882–1918): A professional baseball player.
• Hal Chase (1883–1947): Also a professional baseball player.
• Ren Kelly (1899–1963): Another baseball player.
• Lester Reiff (1877–1948): A famous jockey, known for riding horses in races.
• Gus Triandos (1913–2013): A baseball player.

Important Leaders and Pioneers

• John Smith Chipman (1800–1869): He served as a U.S. Congressman.
• Bernice C. Downing (1878–1940): With her sister Bertha C. Downing (also buried here), she was one of the first women in California to publish their own newspaper, the Santa Clara Journal.
• Arthur M. Free (1879–1953): Another U.S. Congressman.
• Everis Anson Hayes (1855–1942): He also served as a U.S. Congressman.
• José Noriega (1796–1869): He was an Alcalde (like a mayor) of San José a long time ago.
• William Penn Lyon (1822–1913): He was a Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and a Civil War General.
• Paul Masson (1859–1940): An early California vintner, meaning he made wine.
• Charles Henry McKiernan (1825–1892): An early settler in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
• James F. Reed (1800–1874): He was a member of the Donner Party, a group of pioneers who traveled west.
• Samuel Morgan Shortridge (1861–1952): He served as a U.S. Senator.
• Edward O. Smith (1817–1892): He was a Mayor of Decatur, Illinois, an Illinois State Senator, and an early California pioneer.
• John Townsend (?–1850): An early Alcalde of San Francisco.
• Edward Alexander Walker (1864–1946): He received the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Boxer Rebellion.

Special Memorials

The cemetery also has a special memorial called the Overland Pioneers Memorial. This honors the early settlers who traveled across the country to the Santa Clara Valley.

There is also a section dedicated to members of the Grand Army of the Republic. This was a group for soldiers who fought for the Union during the American Civil War.

Images for kids

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  Apostolic Fountain

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  Chinese Pavilion

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  Rotunda of the Great Mausoleum.

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  Fountain of the Apostles.

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  The Community Mausoleum.

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  Chapel of Roses.

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  The Japanese Columbarium.

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  Fountain of the Apostles.

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  Gardens of the Great Mausoleum.

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  Private mausoleums with the Sunrise Hill Cross in the background.

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  View of Downtown San Jose from Oak Hill

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  Private mausoleums