The founding of public cemeteries in Chile began under the government of Bernardo O'Higgins, who created the Cementerio General de Santiago.

[2] On December 3, 1821, a project was presented to create a cemetery in Valparaíso on a small hill in the outskirts of the city, which was later named Cerro Panteón.

[3] In April, 1885 a storm caused a landslide that dragged several coffins into the houses located on the slopes of the hill, killing some residents.

[4] The 1906 Valparaíso earthquake destroyed the chapel of the cemetery, which was built in 1835, the entrance's clock tower and the mausoleum that contained the heart of Diego Portales.

[1][5] In 1922 a portico entrance was built by Swiss architect Augusto Geiger, and was installed a replica of the Pietà donated by Juan Brown, which was brought from Rome.