Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
View from Interstate 10 of Julian Hinds Pumping Plant on the aqueduct
Colorado River Aqueduct
Chiang Statues in Beitou
Wolvenplain prison from the canal
Wolvenplein Prison
Side profile of the bomb prototype.
Petwood Hotel Bouncing Bomb
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Grasshopper Chapel and grounds.
How the Rocky Mountain Locust Plague Spawned Federal Disaster Relief
about 2 hours ago
The Guy Bradley Visitor Center at Flamingo in Everglades National Park.
America’s First Game Warden Died Fighting for the Birds
about 3 hours ago
Echo Park Time Travel Mart.
Atlas Obscura Presents: Traveling Back in Time for Coconut Cake With The Sporkful
1 day ago
One of the PATH’s many entrances.
A Supposedly Boring Mall I Might Actually Visit Again
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States California Colma Emperor Norton's Grave
AO Edited

Emperor Norton's Grave

The final resting place of the Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico.

Colma, California

Added By
Sam E
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I   Wikimedia
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I   Wikimedia
Tombstone of Emperor Norton at Woodlawn Cemetery   User submitted
Map of Woodlawn Cemetery   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Emperor Norton, Colma   dcooper
Jose Sarria, “Widow” of Emperor Norton   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Memorial @ Hills of Eternity Cemetery   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Once a wealthy San Francisco businessman and landowner, Joshua Norton lost his fortune speculating on rice prices in the 1850s and descended into a gloomy and destitute self-exile for several years. Then on September 17, 1859, he publicly declared himself Norton I, Emperor of the United States, and later, Protector of Mexico. Encouraged by the local newspapers, he issued numerous public decrees on matters of public policy and later issued his own currency, which was widely accepted in San Francisco.

The army furnished him with a uniform befitting his status as Emperor, the local theaters provided him with seats on opening night. Meanwhile, he wandered the city streets, visited local clubs, and slept in a flophouse. In the 1870 national census, Norton's occupation is officially listed as 'emperor'. On the same census, it is noted that he does not have the right to vote. In that column, the reason is entered as 'insane'.

Though he was considered insane, or at least highly eccentric, the citizens of San Francisco celebrated his regal presence and his proclamations — most famously, his "order" that the United States Congress be dissolved by force (which Congress and the U.S. Army ignored) and his numerous decrees calling for a bridge and a tunnel to be built across San Francisco Bay. He was reported to have been articulate and well-read, had progressive ideals, and played a mean game of chess.

On January 8, 1880, after a reign of 20 years, Norton collapsed at a street corner and died before he could be given medical treatment. In covering Norton's funeral,  the San Francisco Chronicle — under the headline "Le Roi est Mort" ("The King is Dead") — reported that 10,000 mourners visited his body in the state, followed by a small procession to his first burial at the Masonic Cemetery. In 1934, Norton's remains were transferred, as were all graves in the city, at the expense of the City of San Francisco to a gravesite of moderate splendor at Woodlawn Cemetery, in Colma, south of San Francisco. The site is marked by a large stone inscribed "Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico".

Related Tags

Cemeteries Emperor Norton Catacombs And Crypts

Know Before You Go

Enter Woodlawn Memorial Park (castle-looking structure) and turn to the left after the entrance. Follow the road to the rear of the cemetery. After passing the veteran's area on the right,  and before you get to Cypress Garden, Emperor Norton's grave is on the left. Look for a small cluster of four trees nearby. If you have trouble finding the grave, ask for directions in the office (they're happy to give you a map).

Community Contributors

Added By

Sam E

Edited By

Martin, SEANETTA, johnlumea, naturetack...

  • Martin
  • SEANETTA
  • johnlumea
  • naturetack
  • Annetta Black
  • dcooper

Published

January 7, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • San Francisco History Encyclopedia biography of Norton
  • http://www.sfhistoryencyclopedia.com/articles/n/nortonJoshua.html
  • Find-a-Grave entry on Norton at Woodlawn cemetery
  • http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=766
  • Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco - Emperor Norton decrees
  • http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/norton.html
  • Collection of Emperor Norton Bills
  • http://www.zpub.com/sf/history/nortm3.html
  • Site dedicated to Emperor Norton
  • http://www.EmperorsBridge.org/
  • SFGate.com article on 100th anniversary of Norton
  • http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/01/13/MN135259.DTL
  • http://emperornortontrust.org/blog/2017/12/15/setting-the-record-straight-on-the-famous-emperor-norton-obits
Emperor Norton's Grave
33 Colma Blvd
Colma, California, 94014
United States
37.679425, -122.468818
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Colma Necropolis

Daly City, California

miles away

Colma Historical Association

Colma, California

miles away

Circus Showfolks of America Memorial

Daly City, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Colma

Colma

California

Places 3

Nearby Places

Colma Necropolis

Daly City, California

miles away

Colma Historical Association

Colma, California

miles away

Circus Showfolks of America Memorial

Daly City, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Colma

Colma

California

Places 3

Related Stories and Lists

A New Map Tracks the Life of San Francisco's Emperor Norton

emperor norton

By Sarah Laskow

Society Adventures: All Soul's Day After Dark at Colma's Woodlawn Cemetery

cemeteries

By Beth Abdallah

Related Places

  • Underground tombs

    Nagcarlan, Philippines

    Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery

    The crypt under this cemetery's chapel was used as a meeting place by Filipino revolutionaries.

  • William Edward Minahan Crypt

    Green Bay, Wisconsin

    Crypt of Dr. William Edward Minahan

    The secluded resting place of a local historical figure who perished during the sinking of the Titanic.

  • Tiered catacombs

    Birmingham, England

    Warstone Lane Cemetery Catacombs

    A hidden gem in the middle of the city's infamous Jewelry Quarter.

  • Sligo, Ireland

    Grave of W. B. Yeats

    This cemetery overlooking the Benbulben rock formation is the final resting place of one of Ireland's most beloved poets.

  • Laeken Cemetery Crypt in 2008.

    Brussels, Belgium

    Laeken Cemetery Crypt

    This recently restored crypt was once plagued by liquefying coffins and exploding caskets.

  • A corridor in the Mountain View Mausoleum.

    Altadena, California

    Mountain View Mortuary and Cemetery

    This magnificent mausoleum is as much a work of art as it is a historic resting place.

  • The Tower of Memories.

    Wheat Ridge, Colorado

    Tower of Memories

    A seven-story 1920s mausoleum outside Denver houses thousands of remains.

  • Cemetery of the Poor Clares

    Ischia, Italy

    Poor Clares Convent Cemetery

    Deceased nuns were placed on stone chairs to decompose, while the surviving nuns prayed near the lifeless bodies.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.