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| Designations | |
|---|---|
| Designated | 1999 |
| Reference no. | 129 |
Chapel of the Chimes was founded asCalifornia Electric Crematory in 1909 as acrematory andcolumbarium at 4499 Piedmont Avenue, at the entrance ofMountain View Cemetery inOakland,California. The present building dates largely from a 1928 redevelopment based on the designs of the architectJulia Morgan.[1] TheSpanish Gothic architecture featuresMoorish motifs and the interior is a maze of small rooms featuring ornate stonework, statues, gardens, fountains, and mosaics.
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The chapel originates with a crematory built in 1909 by the California Crematorium Association on the site of a trolley car station; the old structure still has train schedules on the wall. Architect Julia Morgan was hired to expand the facility; the new crematory and columbarium were dedicated onMemorial Day 1928, named Chapel of the Chimes for the chimes in the tower. ArchitectAaron Green, a protégé ofFrank Lloyd Wright, subsequently contributed six additions over 24 years, including mausoleums.[2]
The building maintains its original functions and also serves as the venue for annual music festivals on the winter and summersolstices.[3]
The chapel's owners operate funeral homes and cemeteries, not designed by Morgan, inHayward, also under the nameChapel of the Chimes, as well as Sunset Lawn Chapel of the Chimes inSacramento.[4]
Chapel of the Chimes holds the records of the Chapel of Memories on Pleasant Valley Avenue.
| Garden of Memory | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Electronic music,experimental music |
| Dates | Evening of thesummer solstice |
| Locations | Chapel of the Chimes (Oakland, California) |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Website | Garden of Memory |
Garden of Memory has been held 1996–present; this is a columbarium walk-through event held every year on the evening of thesummer solstice.[5] It features over 40 musicians performing on unique instruments, or compositions designed for the event. The sound is often electronic or electro-acoustic in source and then electronically processed.[6]
Notable burials include the following:
37°49′55″N122°14′44″W / 37.83189°N 122.24569°W /37.83189; -122.24569