The Fallbrook Odd Fellows Cemetery crowns a quiet hillside above town. Founded in the early 1880s and purchased by Lodge #339 in 1904, it guards the earliest burials ever recorded in Fallbrook.
Why Put the Cemetery on Your Itinerary?
- Hand-cut headstones and a few weather-worn wooden crosses show the grit of orchard growers and blacksmiths.
- Veterans from the Mexican–American War through World War II rest here; volunteers place flags on federal holidays.
- Rev. William Pittenger, a Medal of Honor recipient from the Great Locomotive Chase, lies beneath a bronze plaque—catnip for Civil War buffs.
A Short History of Fallbrook Odd Fellows Cemetery
Local lore names Henry Harrison Bowen—farmer, blacksmith, and ’49er—as the first known burial in 1881, though historians now debate whether an even earlier grave hides in an unmarked corner.
As Fallbrook grew, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows took charge in 1904, and later the local Masonic lodge assumed care. Through every hand-off the name Fallbrook Odd Fellows Cemetery stuck, a nod to the fraternal order that first protected the grounds.
Plan Your Visit
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | 1300 Alturas Street at Clemmens Lane, Fallbrook, CA 92028 |
| Hours | Daily, roughly 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; gates usually stay open |
| Cost | Always free |
| Parking | Curbside along Alturas Street—please keep driveways clear |
Quick tips
- Wear sturdy shoes; gopher holes pepper the grass.
- Bring water—no café sits within quick walking distance.
- Visit on Memorial Day or Veterans Day for living history chats with local volunteers.
Extend Your Day in Fallbrook
After time-traveling through the headstones, sample modern Fallbrook:
- Pico Promenade – a shady, mural-lined trail downtown.
- Myrtle Creek Vineyard – sip crisp whites five minutes south.
- Saturday Farmers Market – fill a tote with avocados and local honey.
Need an easy way to bundle discounts around town? Grab the Fallbrook Sightseeing Pass.
Stay Camera-Ready on the Road
Going from gravestones to wine tastings? Book on-location hair and makeup with Mobile Beauty Team and glide into golden-hour selfies looking fresh.
Final Thought
Whether you spend ten minutes or an hour, the Fallbrook Odd Fellows Cemetery links today’s laid-back avocado town to settlers who carved homes out of chaparral. Walk the rows, read the names, and let history settle in—then treat yourself to everything modern Fallbrook offers just down the hill.
