.Most Beautiful Place to Spend Eternity

The Chapel of the Chimes

There was a time when family burial plots were prized holdings shared
between generations. But as atomic families have scattered and burial
alternatives such as cremation have gained popularity, a sunny patch of
hilltop may no longer be your first choice for eternal rest. Cremains
can be shot into space, compressed into man-made diamonds, or scattered
by survivors at a meaningful location. But if you’re looking for a
unique place to rest your ashes, a place that will invite family and
friends to quietly contemplate the greatness of you, there are few
columbaria more striking than Oakland’s Chapel of the Chimes. Founded
in 1909, the structure was rebuilt and expanded in 1928 according to
designs by Julia Morgan. The labyrinth of alcoves, niches, cloisters,
portals, stairwells, courtyards, chapels, and indoor gardens is
augmented by natural illumination that streams through skylights and
stained-glass windows. The nooks are lined with glass-enclosed
cubbyholes that host boxes, urns, and faux-book volumes, each holding
the final chapter of a decedent’s life story. It’s a combination of
Harry Potter’s Hall of Prophecies, the Clue game board, and the
Winchester Mystery House. The columbarium’s gothic ornamentation is
juxtaposed with airy mausoleum spaces of white walls, fountains, and
minimal decoration. The mausoleum’s most renowned name is that of
bluesman John Lee Hooker, who rests in the Garden of Ages on the
building’s third floor. Chapel of the Chimes hosts the annual Garden of
Memory walk-through and Jazz at the Chimes concert as well as monthly
docent-led historical tours. The building is open daily to the public
and provides a tranquil and reflective sanctuary amid Oakland’s lively
urban buzz.

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