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
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
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 »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The truth is out there—somewhere.
The Truth Is Out There at the Dreamland Resort (or Should We Say ‘Area 51?’)
19 days ago
Edward Payson Weston
How the 6-Day Race Became an American Spectator Obsession
20 days ago
Alresford Spy Toilet
This Public Bathroom in a Sleepy English Village Was an Epicenter for Cold War Espionage
22 days ago
Manhattan Well
The Manhattan Well: How Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton United to Solve a Murder Mystery
23 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 San Luis Obispo The Dorn Pyramid

The Dorn Pyramid

A Mysterious Masonic tomb in San Luis Obispo.

San Luis Obispo, California

Added By
cargocultnoise
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Dorn Pyramid in San Luis Obispo   Map Data © 2015 Google
Dorn Pyramid in San Luis Obispo   Map Data © 2015 Google
Dorn Pyramid in San Luis Obispo   Map Data © 2015 Google
  Atlas Obscura user leiris
Dorn Pyramid in San Luis Obispo   Map Data © 2015 Google
Dorn Pyramid in San Luis Obispo   Map Data © 2015 Google
  Atlas Obscura user leiris
  Mulcher / Atlas Obscura User
  Mulcher / Atlas Obscura User
  Mulcher / Atlas Obscura User
Stones replaced   Mulcher / Atlas Obscura User
Dorn Pryamid   cfauset / Atlas Obscura User
Dorn Pyramid   cfauset / Atlas Obscura User
Recently, 2/2018 the last two stones were put in place sealing the tomb.   cfauset / Atlas Obscura User
  Mark Loftin / Atlas Obscura User
  WanderingAlbatross / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
  jlord7 / Atlas Obscura User
  rayewingphoto / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In 1905 a wealthy lawyer, Fred Adolphus Dorn, lost his wife and son during childbirth and in their honor erected a mysterious pyramid tomb. The front of the tomb bears the eerie words "DISTVRB NOT THE SLEEP OF DEATH".

The pyramid stands strangely alone and isolated. This is because of its weight, the location was the only one with solid enough rock to support the massive mausoleum. Two stones lie in front of the door waiting to be cemented in place once all the Dorns are laid to rest inside.

Related Tags

Catacombs And Crypts Pyramids Tombs Cemeteries

Know Before You Go

As of June 2018, the tomb is officially sealed, but still viewable from the outside.

Community Contributors

Added By

cargocultnoise

Edited By

leiris, Meg, Mulcher, Mark Loftin...

  • leiris
  • Meg
  • Mulcher
  • Mark Loftin
  • rayewingphoto
  • cfauset
  • WanderingAlbatross
  • jlord7
  • joeypesto

Published

June 24, 2009

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.weirdca.com/location.php?location=204
The Dorn Pyramid
Higuera Street and Elks Lane
Oddfellows Cemetery
San Luis Obispo, California, 93401
United States
35.260761, -120.669613
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Madonna Inn

San Luis Obispo, California

miles away

'The Iron Road Pioneers'

San Luis Obispo, California

miles away

San Luis Obispo's Bubblegum Alley

San Luis Obispo, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo

California

Places 7

Nearby Places

Madonna Inn

San Luis Obispo, California

miles away

'The Iron Road Pioneers'

San Luis Obispo, California

miles away

San Luis Obispo's Bubblegum Alley

San Luis Obispo, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo

California

Places 7

Related Stories and Lists

9 Tombs That Prove You Don't Have to Be a Pharaoh to Be Buried Under a Pyramid

cemeteries

By Meg Neal

Related Places

  • 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.

  • Cripta de los Héroes inside the Cementerio Presbítero Matías Maestro

    Lima, Peru

    Cripta de los Héroes

    The elaborate crypt where Peruvian heroes of the War of the Pacific were laid to rest.

  • Blue Sky Mausoleum.

    Buffalo, New York

    Blue Sky Mausoleum

    This unique crypt designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for his longtime friend was not completed in either man's lifetime.

  • Path leading up to the Pyramid

    Rapa, Poland

    Rapa Pyramid

    A peculiar family mausoleum built by a German nobleman captivated by the occult.

  • Lipstick, flowers

    Los Angeles, California

    Marilyn Monroe's Crypt

    Her final resting place was intended to be modest and private, but the power of her popularity continues to draw visitors.

  • Howard pyramid mausoleum at Old Kilbride Cemetery in Arklow.

    Wicklow, Ireland

    Howard Mausoleum Pyramid

    On the Irish coast, 18 members of the Howard family are eternally resting in an Egyptian pyramid.

  • Nicolas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    Nicolas Cage's Pyramid Tomb

    In 2010, Nicolas Cage purchased two plots in this cemetery using one to construct this strange pyramid mausoleum.

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.