The cemetery was established in 1821 after Chile's independence when Bernardo O'Higgins inaugurated the Alameda de las Delicias along the old course of the Mapocho River.

One of the most visited memorials is that of former President Salvador Allende who had been buried in the Santa Ines cemetery at Viña del Mar following his suicide in the 1973 coup d'état.

The gatehouse that serves as the main entrance to the cemetery is crowned by a dome, which acts as a terminating vista for La Paz Avenue.

At the center of the square stands a monument dedicated to the people who died in the Church of the Company Fire.

The historical portion of the cemetery was designated as a national monument in 2010,[1] reaching the same status as Patio 29.