Pleasant Valley Historic Cemetery and Japanese Cemetery

Two side-by-side historic cemeteries. The Pleasant Valley Cemetery is abandoned with a few markers remaining and the perimeter of family plots still visible. Some markers have family last names but no named dead. The stones date from 1860 to 1960.

The Japanese Cemetery was mostly lost in overgrowth but has been cleared and some monuments relocated to accommodate a new apartment building. A sign says it is from 1908. Some stones are in both Japanese and English. The perimeter fence is locked.

According to the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board, the Japanese Cemetery was given to the Japanese community by the local Masonic Lodge at a time when California laws barred Asian immigrants from owning land in the state. The Pleasant Valley Cemetery was a Masonic burial ground—you can see the Masonic Square and Compass symbol on some of the gravestones within.