Mt. Soledad Memorial Cross in La Jolla

Crowning La Jolla's highest point in solemn majesty is a lasting memorial to the dead of both World Wars and the Korean War.

A cross of California redwood was first placed on Mt. Soledad in 1913 where it stood for ten years before it was destroyed by vandals. A sturdier, stucco-over-wood frame cross replaced it but was blown down by blustery winds in 1952. With their characteristic energy, however, La Jolla residents organized sufficient fund raising and volunteer labor to facilitate erection of a more permanent structure.

Designed in recessed concrete by architect Donald Campbell, the existing cross has a twelve-foot arm spread and stands forty-three feet tall. It was dedicated at the annual Easter Sunday sunrise service of 1954. Rising 822 feet above sea level the scenic summit affords a spectacular panorama. The cross itself, always illuminated by night, serves as a guiding landmark for residents and visitors alike.