A Brief HistoryWoodlawn Cemetery and Mausoleum has been serving the community for over 100 years. It is wholly owned and operated by the City of Santa Monica - one of the few municipally-owned cemeteries in California. The city purchased the cemetery in 1897 and the mausoleum in 1972. It is considered one of the citys most important historical resources.Woodlawns historic mausoleum, centered within the cemetery grounds, captures the architecture of early Spanish California. Built in 1922, it is one of the first public mausoleums constructed in California. The corridors feature exquisite imported marble and granite from Italy. The mausoleums magnificent stained glass windows are breath taking. The rotunda walls of the Mausoleum are adorned with large colorful tapestries that were painted by famous artist Hugo Ballin, who is interred here at Woodlawn Cemetery."