Woodlawn Cemetery, Mortuary and Mausoleum - FD #2101
Woodlawn Cemetery, Mortuary and Mausoleum is wholly owned and operated by the City of Santa Monica - one of the few municipally-owned cemeteries in California and the only City owned mortuary in the U.S.
The City purchased the cemetery in 1907 and the Mausoleum in 1972. With its lush grounds and beautiful Mausoleum containing breathtaking stained glass windows, statues, murals, and Italian marble, Woodlawn offers a reflective and peaceful environment for you and your loved ones.
Woodlawn is one of only two Cemeteries in the Los Angeles area that offers green burial, the eco-friendly alternative to traditional burial. Green burial is a form of interment designed to have minimal environmental impact, especially when compared to traditional burial methods. With this process, burials are performed using biodegradable products such as a shroud made of organic fabric or a simple wooden casket with no metals. No cement vaults are used, and no embalming chemicals that contain hazardous products such as formaldehyde are used.
Each year, traditional burials place hundreds of thousands of gallons of toxic embalming fluid and millions of pounds of metal and concrete into the earth for perpetuity. Instead of contributing more imperishable waste to the environment, green burial nurtures the natural cycles of growth and fosters a greater union with nature. It offers an eco-friendly process to return our bodies to the earth and a meaningful way to honor the life of a loved one.
Eternal Meadow, the section of Woodlawn Cemetery devoted exclusively to green burial, is a naturalistic wildflower meadow garden thoughtfully designed to emphasize the sanctity of life and harmony with nature. The space features diverse grasses and wildflowers native to California that also provide a habitat for native birds and pollinator insects, including the endangered Monarch butterfly, contributing to the cycle of growth.
Whether you are here to celebrate life through one of our special programs, are ready to plan for your future, or have lost a loved one and are in time of need, Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary is here for you.
