Holy Cross Cemetery in Menlo Park has served the community for more than a century, preserving the history and legacy of families throughout the San Francisco Peninsula.

Established in 1872, the Church of the Nativity of Our Lord, located on Oak Grove Avenue near Middlefield Road, became the foundation of what would become Holy Cross Cemetery. The surrounding communities had already been utilizing the burial grounds since the late 1860s. In 1883, the Church formally acquired the town cemetery and gave it the name Holy Cross Cemetery, creating a permanent and consecrated space for Catholic families in the area.

That same year, Archbishop William Patrick Riordan of the Archdiocese of San Francisco journeyed to Menlo Park to consecrate the grounds. With this, Holy Cross Cemetery was formally established—serving the community four years before the first burial took place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma.

The original layout and landscaping of the cemetery were designed by renowned landscape architect Michael Lynch, whose work helped shape many of the grand estates of the era, as well as portions of Stanford University. His design contributed to the peaceful, natural setting that continues to define the cemetery today.

In 1953, a significant chapter in the cemetery’s history unfolded when Stanford University required the relocation of burials from the site of the original St. Denis Catholic Church to allow for the development of the linear accelerator. Many of those individuals were reinterred at Holy Cross Cemetery on Santa Cruz Avenue. A historical marker near the main entrance stands today as a reminder of this moment in the cemetery’s history.

Today, Holy Cross Cemetery remains an intimate and deeply rooted community landmark, spanning just over seven acres. It continues to serve Catholic families throughout the southern portion of San Mateo County, with as many as 100 burials in recent years and an interment register that includes more than 5,400 names. Many of these family names trace back to the early development of the Peninsula and reflect the generations who helped shape the surrounding communities.

More than a place of burial, Holy Cross Cemetery is a lasting connection to the past. It preserves the stories, heritage, and memory of those who came before, offering a space for reflection, remembrance, and continuity.

As time passes, preserving this sacred ground becomes increasingly important. Ongoing restoration efforts help ensure that Holy Cross Cemetery remains a place of dignity, history, and community for generations to come.