← Back to Wilhelm's Portland MausoleumLast updated: March 24, 2026

Wilhelm's Portland Mausoleum is a corporate-owned, full-service funeral home and mausoleum in Portland, OR, notable as the oldest crematorium west of the Mississippi and the largest mausoleum on the West Coast — and currently drawing concern over visible facility deterioration. Founded in 1901 and now operating under Foundation Partners Group, the facility spans 2.5 city blocks, rises eight stories tall, and offers seven miles of interment space. Its current Google rating of 2.9/5 across 9 reviews reflects a sharp divide between appreciation for its historic grandeur and alarm over its physical condition.


Locations

Wilhelm's Portland Mausoleum (Primary/Only Location) 6705 SE 14th Ave, Portland, OR 97202 Phone: (971) 888-6119 Hours: Monday–Wednesday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (additional days not confirmed in available data)

The facility is described on its provider website as spanning 2.5 city blocks with eight stories and seven miles of interment space, making it the largest mausoleum on the West Coast. The building includes a historic chapel where the cornerstone was laid on February 5, 1901. The facility also houses an on-site crematory — reportedly the first crematorium established west of the Mississippi River. Public access to the building has historically been permitted on Memorial Day, though recent reviews indicate that policy may have changed (see Reviews section).


Services

Based on available data from the provider website and third-party listings, Wilhelm's offers:

  • Mausoleum interment — indoor crypt entombment within the facility's eight-story structure
  • Cremation services — via an on-site crematory, believed to be the oldest operating crematorium west of the Mississippi (established 1901)
  • Funeral services — full-service funeral home capabilities
  • Cemetery/burial services — the facility functions as both a funeral home and a cemetery/mausoleum
  • Pre-planning — available through the Foundation Partners Group network (details not confirmed in available data specific to this location)

The combination of an on-site crematory, mausoleum, and cemetery functions in a single facility is a meaningful practical distinction, allowing families to arrange multiple types of disposition without transferring to another provider.


Pricing

No General Price List (GPL) data was available in the provided information. Third-party pricing aggregators such as Parting list this location but no specific pricing figures were surfaced. Families should request a current GPL directly from the funeral home — federal law (the FTC Funeral Rule) requires that it be provided upon request, in person or by mail.


Reviews

Wilhelm's holds a 2.9/5 rating on Google based on 9 reviews, and has 22 reviews on Yelp with 96 photos. The Google score is notably low for a funeral home, where ratings of 4.5 and above are common.

Positive themes:

  • Historic grandeur and architectural significance — Reviewers who have visited the interior consistently describe the building as stunning and historically compelling. One reviewer, Lesa Monster, called it "MASSIVE" and noted its status as the first crematorium west of the Mississippi, adding evocative descriptions of its aged interiors.
  • Memorial Day experience — Past visitors praised the annual Memorial Day open house. Michelle J wrote: "We were extremely pleased with our visit on Memorial day. Very welcoming set up with maps enabling us to find our loved one, cookies and refreshments set out in a very nice arrangement."

Negative themes and concerns:

The majority of critical reviews center on two related issues: facility deterioration and restricted public access.

  • Reviewer S.K. (2/5) described the condition in specific terms: "broken window in one stairwell... several other windows cracked and 'sealed' with tape... extensive water damage throughout the premises, including ceiling and carpet damage... structural damage on at least one exterior building." They added: "I have no idea how these conditions don't constitute code violations."
  • Reviewer M.W. B (1/5) alleged the facility had become "totally decrepit, mouldy, flooded, watery graves" and suggested the decision to restrict public Memorial Day access was an attempt to "limit public exposure" of the conditions.
  • Reviewer Elbert Pruett (1/5) reported that the facility is "no longer let[ting] people visit" and is "closed off to the public," describing it as a loss for those who appreciated the building.
  • A Reddit thread on r/Portland echoes this pattern, with a commenter noting that after the facility was sold to a national company based in Florida, "it hasn't been maintaining it the way it used to be."

These concerns are worth taking seriously for families considering interment here. Facilities that house remains carry ongoing maintenance obligations, and the pattern of complaints about structural and water damage — from multiple independent sources — is consistent enough to warrant direct inquiry with management before making any arrangement decisions.


Ownership

Wilhelm's Portland Mausoleum is owned by Foundation Partners Group, a privately held, Florida-based funeral industry consolidator. The facility originally operated as The Portland Cremation Association, laying its cornerstone on February 5, 1901. Over more than 120 years it has operated under several names, including Portland Memorial Mausoleum and Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral Home, reflecting successive ownership changes. The BBB business profile lists the legal entity as The Portland Memorial Inc. The Reddit community has noted that the sale to a national company (consistent with Foundation Partners Group's acquisition model) marked a turning point in facility upkeep. Foundation Partners Group is not publicly traded.


Accreditations

The BBB profile for The Portland Memorial Inc. is available, though BBB accreditation status and current rating were not confirmed in the available data. A separate BBB listing for "Wilhelm Funeral Home & Crematory" is explicitly noted as not BBB accredited. No professional association memberships, state licensing details, or awards data were available in the provided information.


Conclusion

Wilhelm's Portland Mausoleum is a historically significant facility — the oldest crematorium west of the Mississippi and the largest mausoleum on the West Coast — but its current condition and low review scores suggest that its corporate owner has not kept pace with maintenance obligations. Families researching interment or cremation services here should visit the facility in person, ask management directly about ongoing repairs and code compliance, and request a current General Price List before making any decisions. Given the available data, this location cannot be reliably positioned on a budget-to-premium scale without pricing information, but the pattern of deferred maintenance at a premium-type facility is a meaningful concern that distinguishes it from other Portland-area providers.

This report was generated using publicly available information including licensing records, pricing data, and consumer reviews. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation.

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