Entry No. 36 — the San Diego file — filed under: cemetery
El Campo Santo Cemetery
California Historical Landmark No. 68 is a small walled Catholic burial ground where Juan María Osuna — San Diego's first alcalde, buried here in 1851 — still lies under a headstone reading "First Alcalde Of San Diego," alongside other founding-era pioneers whose graves the rest of the city built right up against.
The story
Established in 1849 as Old Town’s Catholic burial ground—and designated California Historical Landmark No. 68—El Campo Santo is the second oldest cemetery in California. At first glance, it appears to be a modest, walled courtyard squeezed into the middle of a commercial strip on San Diego Avenue. But parish records document 477 bodies interred on this small footprint, a number vastly outperforming the handful of headstones currently visible inside the walls.
The discrepancy comes down to 19th-century municipal growth. As Old Town expanded, the city ran roads and horse-drawn streetcar tracks directly through the cemetery's original borders. While early leaders like Juan María Osuna—San Diego’s first alcalde, buried in 1851—still lie inside under a headstone reading "First Alcalde Of San Diego," dozens of pioneer-era residents ended up buried directly under the surrounding street and sidewalk.
What it's like
You will find the gate on San Diego Avenue between Arista and Conde Streets. Step inside and the noise of nearby gift shops drops off instantly inside a dusty enclosure filled with brick-bordered plots, iron enclosures, and wooden markers. Look down before you even walk through the gate: brass medallions set into the sidewalk and street asphalt mark the exact locations where forgotten 19th-century graves sit under foot traffic. For the most atmospheric visit, skip daylight hours and come during Old Town's two-day Día de los Muertos event, when a evening candlelight procession leads directly into the cemetery grounds.
The move: Come for Old Town's annual two-day Día de los Muertos celebration, which ends with a candlelight procession into the cemetery itself — walk the markers by lantern light instead of daylight.
- 📍 Old Town
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: San Diego Avenue between Arista and Conde Streets, San Diego, CA 92110
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Oculto 477 — This reservation-only speakeasy sits inside Tahona right next door and draws its name directly from the 477 recorded bodies buried at El Campo Santo.
- Pioneer Park (Mission Hills Park) — Located less than a mile north, this former 1876 Catholic cemetery suffered a similar fate when the city removed the headstones in 1961 while leaving the graves intact under a public park lawn.
- Spruce Street Suspension Bridge — Drive less than two miles east to Bankers Hill to cross this swaying 1912 footbridge suspended 70 feet over a canyon floor.
Good to know
Where is El Campo Santo Cemetery located?
It sits at 2410 San Diego Avenue between Arista and Conde Streets in Old Town San Diego.
Who is buried at El Campo Santo?
The cemetery contains 477 recorded pioneer-era burials starting from 1849, including Juan María Osuna, who became San Diego's first alcalde (mayor) and was interred here in 1851.
Are there really graves under the street?
Yes. When San Diego Avenue and early streetcar tracks were laid through Old Town, the city paved directly over the cemetery's outer grave sites. Today, brass markers in the sidewalk and road mark where bodies remain buried underneath.
When is the best time to visit?
The grounds are open daily, but the site is best experienced during Old Town's annual Día de los Muertos celebration, which features a lantern-lit night procession into the cemetery.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · hiddensandiego.com · wend.ca · Yelp
last checked: 2026-07-19