During my recent visit to San Francisco I was surprised to learn about the remnants of an historic cemetery sitting in the midst of the Lincoln Park Golf Course, less than half a mile from the Legion of Honor art museum. The story behind this memorial site is fascinating and still ongoing, and I’ll be writing more about it before too long. I located the spot on a foggy afternoon. It’s not difficult to find — but anyone visiting should keep in mind two things. One is that the spot is regarded as sacred ground to many people; and the other is that if you’re not careful, you might get beaned by a flying golf ball.

It was also a foggy afternoon when I visited the Historic Life-Saving Station Cemetery in Point Reyes National Seashore, some 40 miles north of the Lincoln Park Golf Course. This small private cemetery is the final resting place of members of the Clausson family, as well as four men who served with the Point Reyes Life-Saving Service (precursor to the U.S. Coast Guard) and lost their lives in the 1890s. It’s a beautiful spot, and because its history is equally fascinating, I’ll also be revisiting this topic again quite soon.