Sierra Mountain Cemetery

The ambiance of a final resting place is a key consideration when families making burial arrangements or funeral planning for a loved one. The grave site will be visited for decades in remembrance of a life lived and lost. That is why some 20 to 25 people are buried each year at Sierra Mountain Cemetery, a beautiful and historic venue in Truckee, California.

The decision to create this final resting place was made by two civic groups, the Masons and Oddfellows, in the late 1800s. The very first recorded burial at Sierra Mountain Cemetery was in 1869. Many of Truckee's earliest residents were laid to rest here, although Catholics and other "undesirables" were originally excluded.

For more than a century, burials could not be conducted in the winter, owing to the deep snows and hard ground. Lack of space eventually became a concern, too. However, the creation of an above-ground facility with 96 double niches that hold two cremation urns each alleviated this problem in 2003. These space- and time-saving conveniences are located within the cemetery's gazebo.

The charm of this burial ground, which now goes by the official name Truckee Cemetery, derives from its wilderness look as well as its history what has been described as a timeless, verdant setting. Those wishing to pay their respects, search for gravestones, or simply tour the grounds are welcome to do so between dawn and dusk daily.