Sylmar in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The San Fernando Pioneer Memorial Cemetery

Pioneer Memorial Cemetery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 27, 2026

1. Pioneer Memorial Cemetery Marker

Inscription.
This Cemetery, earlier known as Morningside Cemetery, is the oldest non-sectarian cemetery in San Fernando Valley. It was used from the early 1800's until 1939. It was legally abandoned in 1959. In this same year Mrs. Nellis S. Noble donated the site in memory of the pioneers of San Fernando as a Pioneer Memorial Park.

Erected 1961 by California State Park Commission; San Fernando Parlor No. 280 Native Daughters of the Golden West; History Landmark Association of the San Fernando and Antelope Valley Parlor Native Sons and Native Daughters of the Golden West. (Marker Number 753.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, and the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series lists.

Location. 34° 19.255′ N, 118° 26.882′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Sylmar. It is at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Bledsoe Street, on the right when traveling east on

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Foothill Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14400 Foothill Blvd, Sylmar CA 91342, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s The Valley (the San Fernando Valley)

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sayre Fire (approx. 1.1 miles away); Irene Tovar Square (approx. 1.6 miles away); Rim of the Valley Trail (approx. 1.6 miles away); Loop Fire (approx. 1.8 miles away); 1971 Sylmar Earthquake (approx. 1.8 miles away); Rogerio Rocha (approx. 1.8 miles away); Mission Wells (approx. 2 miles away); S.H.G.A. (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

Regarding The San Fernando Pioneer Memorial Cemetery. In the late 1800s,

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 27, 2026

2. Pioneer Memorial Cemetery Marker

all but 10 acres of the cemetery’s original 40 were sold. Subsequently, burial plots were sold by the newly-formed San Fernando Cemetery Association, and the first burials were recorded in 1889. In 1911, the City of San Fernando voted to reduce its city limits to two square miles, which left the cemetery (and the San Fernando Mission) outside the city’s borders. In 1923, the San Fernando Cemetery Association was dissolved and more land was sold off. In 1927, mortician Will G. Noble purchased the remaining 3.8 acres. Noble operated the cemetery until his death in 1932, and the family continued the business until 1939, the year of the last official burial. The cemetery was neglected for the next 19 years and heavily vandalized. The widow of Will Noble deeded the cemetery over to the Native Daughters of the Golden West in 1959.

This cemetery, in its early stages of preservation, was a Boy Scout Troop 94 cleanup service project. It was cared for by the Native Daughters of the Golden West, the Sylmar Civic Association, the San Fernando Women’s Club, and today, the San Fernando Valley Historical Society.

Half of the original 10-acre cemetery

L.A. Historic Monument No. 586 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 15, 2019

3. L.A. Historic Monument No. 586

property had very few burials, and is now home to 64 condominium owners (including this contributor, -CB).

Also see . . . Pioneer Cemetery. - San Fernando Valley Historical Society website. (Submitted on February 2, 2017, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.)

Memorial Day Ceremony image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 28, 2018

4. Memorial Day Ceremony

Wreath placed at marker for five Civil War veterans. Four Union soldiers and one Confederate soldier are buried here. Most of the original markers are missing.

Civil War Veterans Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 28, 2018

5. Civil War Veterans Marker

Marker placed by E Clampus Vitus on Memorial Day 2016.

San Fernando Pioneer Memorial Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Konrad R Summers, May 28, 2008

6. San Fernando Pioneer Memorial Cemetery

Plan 9 From Outer-Space had several scenes filmed here.

“Walk of History” Dedication image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 28, 2018

7. “Walk of History” Dedication

Bricks along the walkway are engraved with a history timeline of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. Unveiled during the annual Memorial Day ceremony on May 28, 2018.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2012. This page has been viewed 2,635 times since then and 107 times this year. Last updated on October 14, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1. submitted on July 26, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on July 27, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3. submitted on June 16, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4, 5. submitted on May 28, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on September 8, 2012, by Konrad R Summers of Santa Clarita, California. 7. submitted on May 28, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.