This shows some photographs of the Presidio Pet Cemetery --- graves and grave monuments. Historically this site was one of the two first cemeteries in this new Spanish-Mexican settlement circa 1776. The other earliest cemetery was at the Mission Dolores Church Compound.

There were perhaps 14 fenced in graves here for the Spanish-Mexican settlers and soldiers and a number of Native Americans, which may of been from the local Ohlone tribe. The United States Army took possesion of the San Francisco Presidio around 1847 and all of the graves were supposedly moved to the tomb of 'The Unknown Soldier' in the new Presidio Post Cemetery which later became the National Presidio Cemetery. I suspect, though, that the Native Americans may of been left behind and this Pet Cemetery was added on top of the previous graveyard.

Edwin N. Thompson****, a Federal Historian, mentions when the "U.S. Army occupied the Presidio in 1847, a small Spanish-Mexican burial ground lay a short distance to the northwest of the original Presidio compound." He goes on to say, "A 1940 History of the Presidio referred to this cemetery as one for Indian, Spanish and Mexican Soldiers, 1776 - 1846. The remains were later removed to the National Cemetery, and placed in the tomb of the 'Unknown Soldier'."

I have suggested that the Native Indians' graves might of been left behind considering the active Indian Wars(Modoc) and genocide(Ishi) going on around that time, the mid -1800's. This is also partly due to Thompson's accounts which leave me more questions than answers.

For starters he mentions that in 1866 an "exasperated leutenant" wrote that there were no records of the interments and few headstones existed (the new post cemetery?). He then goes on to state "the other cemetery is situated almost between the Laundresses quarters and is also in good condition." If they were in such good condition, why couldn't they list whom or what they moved to the New Presidio Post Cemetery (aka National Cemetery)? It seems Thompson's references are a little confusing as to which one has the few, unreadable headstone-markers... (the New 1847 Presidio Post Cemetery or the old 1776 Spanish-Mexican-Indian Cemetery)?

Consequently, the truth is up for grabs in 'my book'. One can believe the U.S. Army personnel moved the Indian graves along with the Spanish-Mexican soldiers' and civilians' graves to the tomb of "The Unkown Soldier" in the San Francisco Presidio National Cemetery. Or one can entertain the notion that the Indians were left behind and perhaps it was the Laundresses whom had a hand in converting the early 1776 settlers cemetery into the charming Pet Cemetery we see today.

Your guess is as good as mine.