List of San Diego Historical Landmarks in La Jolla facts for kids

This is a List of San Diego Historical Landmarks in La Jolla. Imagine buildings, parks, and special places that are so important to a city's history that they get a special "landmark" title! In 1967, the City of San Diego created a group called the Historical Resources Board. Their job is to find and protect these amazing historical spots. So far, over 850 places have been named landmarks in San Diego. This list focuses on 106 of these special places found in the beautiful areas of La Jolla and Torrey Pines.

Some of these landmarks are extra special! Four of them are also recognized by the whole country on the National Register of Historic Places. One, the George H. Scripps Memorial Marine Biological Laboratory, is even a National Historic Landmark, which is the highest level of historical recognition in the U.S.

Many of these landmark buildings were designed by a famous architect named Irving Gill, who created unique, modern styles early on. You'll also find the amazing Torrey Pines Area here. La Jolla is also known for its scientific research, and some landmarks like the George H. Scripps Memorial Marine Biological Laboratory and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies show this long history.

Cool Historical Places in La Jolla

Let's explore some of the most interesting historical landmarks in La Jolla and Torrey Pines! These places tell stories about how the area grew and changed over time.

Nature's Wonders and Early Settlements

Some landmarks celebrate La Jolla's stunning natural beauty and its very first communities.

Torrey Pines State Reserve

The Torrey Pines State Reserve (Landmark #10) was designated on November 21, 1969. This huge coastal park is one of the wildest and most natural areas on the Southern California coast. It covers about 8 square kilometers (3 square miles)! It has high cliffs that look out over Torrey Pines State Beach and a peaceful lagoon. This lagoon is a vital stop for many migrating seabirds. It's a fantastic place to hike and enjoy nature, just as people have for many years.

A Torrey Pine tree, unique to this region.

Green Dragon Colony Site

The Green Dragon Colony site (Landmark #84) was recognized on July 6, 1973. This was a group of 12 small cottages right by the coast. They were built by a German immigrant named Anna Held Heinrich. Over time, this spot became a famous artists' colony, a place where creative people lived and worked. Sadly, the last four cottages were taken down in 1991.

Red Rest and Red Roost Cottages

The Red Roost and Red Rest (Landmark #101) were designated on January 3, 1975. Built in 1894, these are the oldest beach cottages still standing from the late-Victorian era. They were also known as the Neptune and Cove Tea Room. They have been empty since the 1980s and have been part of a big discussion about "demolition by neglect," meaning they were left to fall apart. Sadly, Red Rest burned down in November 2020.

The historic Red Rest and Red Roost Cottages.

Tyrolean Terrace Colony

The Tyrolean Terrace Colony (Landmark #102) was designated on February 7, 1975. These buildings were constructed in 1911. However, they were torn down in 1975 to make space for the Coast Walk Shopping Center.

Pottery Canyon Park

Pottery Canyon Park (Landmark #108) became a landmark on February 6, 1976. This park has five small structures. Three of them were built on park land in 1928, and the other two are on private property nearby.

El Pueblo Ribera

El Pueblo Ribera (Landmark #117) was designated on February 4, 1977. These buildings were designed in the Pueblo Revival style by architect Rudolph Schindler and built in 1923.

Important Buildings and Community Hubs

Many landmarks are buildings that played a big role in La Jolla's community life, from recreation to education.

La Jolla Woman's Club

The La Jolla Woman's Club (Landmark #79) was designated on March 2, 1973. This beautiful clubhouse was designed by the famous architect Irving Gill and built in 1914. It has been a central place for women's groups and community events for over a century.

The La Jolla Woman's Club, designed by Irving Gill.

La Jolla Recreational Center

The La Jolla Recreational Center (Landmark #86) was recognized on September 7, 1973. This center was built in 1915 by Ellen Browning-Scripps, a very generous person who gave it to the City of San Diego for the children of La Jolla. It was also designed by Irving Gill.

The La Jolla Recreational Center.

La Jolla Fire Station Engine Company 13

The La Jolla Fire Station Engine Company 13 (Landmark #164) was designated on June 30, 1982. This fire station was built in 1913 and has served the community for a very long time.

La Jolla Fire Station Engine Company 13.

Wisteria Cottage

Wisteria Cottage (Landmark #166) became a landmark on August 25, 1982. This charming cottage was built in 1904 and later remodeled in 1907 by Irving Gill.

Wisteria Cottage in La Jolla.

The Little Hotel by the Sea

The Little Hotel by the Sea (Landmark #181) was designated on November 30, 1983. It was built between 1924 and 1925, with additions made in 1928 and 1939. It is connected to architect Thomas Shepherd.

La Valencia Hotel

The La Valencia Hotel (Landmark #204) was recognized on January 14, 1987. Built in 1909, it was first called the Cabrillo Hotel and later renamed La Valencia West. It was remodeled in 1959.

The iconic La Valencia Hotel.

La Jolla Public Library

The La Jolla Public Library (Landmark #228) was designated on July 27, 1988. This important community building was constructed in 1921 and is associated with William Templeton Johnson.

The La Jolla Public Library.

The Athenaeum

The Athenaeum (Landmark #229) was recognized on July 27, 1988. This building was constructed in 1956 and is associated with William Lumpkins.

The Athenaeum in La Jolla.

Parker Office Building

The Parker Office Building (Landmark #230) was designated on July 27, 1988. It was built between 1928 and 1930 and is associated with Thomas Shepherd. The inside of the building has been remodeled.

The Parker Office Building.

Scripps Memorial Hospital and Clinic

The Scripps Memorial Hospital and Clinic (Landmark #234) was designated on April 26, 1989. These buildings were constructed between 1924 and 1928 and designed by Louis Gill. The designated structures include the Scripps Building from 1918, which was the first building used as a clinic, and the Copley Building, added between 1949 and 1951.

Mount Soledad Park and Memorial Cross

Mount Soledad Park and Memorial Cross (Landmark #295) was designated on August 22, 1990. This area became a public park in August 1916. It offers amazing views and is a significant memorial site.

The Mount Soledad Cross.

Torrey Pines Gliderport

The Torrey Pines Gliderport (Landmark #315) was recognized on August 26, 1992. This glider airport was started in 1928. Famous aviation pioneers like Charles A. Lindbergh and Woodly Brown used it. During World War II, U.S. Army cadets even trained here. It's a place where people still enjoy flying gliders today!

The Torrey Pines Gliderport.

The Bishop's School

The Bishop's School has several landmark designations. Bentham Hall (Landmark #324) was designated on July 27, 1994. This building at The Bishop's School was built in 1910 and designed by Irving Gill with help from Louis Gill. The entire Bishop's School Historic District (Landmark #357) was designated on May 27, 1998. This includes many important buildings like Scripps Hall (1910–11), Gilman Hall (1916), St. Mary's Chapel (1916), The Tower (1930), and the Wheeler J. Bailey Library (1935). These buildings were designed by architects like Irving Gill, Louis Gill, and Carleton Winslow. The historic district also includes the Garden Wall on Prospect Street and trees planted before 1935.

The Bishop's School at sundown.

Surf Shack at Windansea Beach

The Surf Shack at Windansea Beach (Landmark #357) was designated on May 27, 1998. This unique palm shelter was built in 1947 by surfers returning from World War II. It's the oldest continuously used shelter of its kind on the West Coast, showing the long history of surfing in La Jolla.

Geranium Cottage

Geranium Cottage (Landmark #364) was recognized on August 26, 1998. This Craftsman style cottage was built in 1904 for Dr. and Mrs. Edward Howard. It was originally located at 503 Prospect Street and moved in 1914.

Geranium Cottage.

Dr. Martha Dunn Corey Residence

The Dr. Martha Dunn Corey Residence (Landmark #375) was designated on March 24, 1999. This Victorian house was built in 1909 for Dr. Martha Dunn Corey. It was moved from 7520 Draper Avenue in 2003.

The Dr. Martha Dunn Corey Residence.

Cave Store & Professor Shultz' Tunnel Leading to the Sunny Jim Cave

The Cave Store & Professor Shultz' Tunnel Leading to the Sunny Jim Cave (Landmark #380) was designated on April 28, 1999. This unique commercial building was constructed between 1902 and 1912 by Professor Gustav Schultz. It was later remodeled in the 1920s by Josephine Seaman. This spot is famous for its tunnel that leads down to a sea cave!

La Jolla Reading Room

The La Jolla Reading Room (Landmark #447) was designated on October 26, 2000. This Folk Victorian structure was built in 1898. It was originally located at the northeast corner of Girard Avenue and Wall Street.

Fuelscher House

The Fuelscher House (Landmark #503) was designated on October 25, 2001. This Monterey eclectic style house was built in 1929.

The Fuelscher House.

Henry and May Turner/Herbert Mann-Thomas Shepherd House

The Henry and May Turner/Herbert Mann-Thomas Shepherd House (Landmark #560) was designated on November 22, 2002. This Spanish eclectic house was built in 1928 and designed by architects Herbert J. Mann and Thomas Shepherd.

The Henry and May Turner/Herbert Mann-Thomas Shepherd House.

F.M. Sheppard Duplex and House Rentals

The F.M. Sheppard Duplex and House Rentals (Landmark #708) were designated on April 28, 2005. These Craftsman, shingle-style buildings were constructed in 1911.

The F.M. Sheppard Duplex and House Rentals.

Scientific and Archaeological Sites

La Jolla is also a hub for science and has ancient history.

George H. Scripps Memorial Marine Biological Laboratory

The George H. Scripps Memorial Marine Biological Laboratory (Landmark #119) was designated on May 6, 1977. This is the oldest oceanographic research building in the United States that has been used continuously! It was built in 1909 as part of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, which was the nation's very first oceanographic institute, founded in 1903. This building is a National Historic Landmark.

The historic George H. Scripps Memorial Marine Biological Laboratory.

Salk Institute for Biological Studies

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies (Landmark #304) was designated on February 27, 1991. This world-famous research institute was founded in 1960 by Jonas Salk, who developed the polio vaccine. Its Modernist campus was designed by the renowned architect Louis Kahn. It's a truly impressive and important place for scientific discovery.

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

Spindrift Archaeological Site

The Spindrift archaeological site (Landmark #390) was designated on September 23, 1999. This site is known as the Spindthrift site and was a settlement for the San Dieguito Native Americans. It contains artifacts and findings that date back from 965 to 1645 A.D., giving us a glimpse into ancient life in the area.

Gordon-Hooper Archaeological Site

The Gordon-Hooper archeological site (Landmark #396) was designated on October 28, 1999. This archaeological site was first found in the 1930s and is located on the Scripps Estate.

Scripps Estates Archaeological Site

The Scripps Estates archeological site (Landmark #473) was designated on July 26, 2001. This archaeological site is important because of its prehistoric significance, including burials and artifacts found there.

More La Jolla Landmarks

Here are some other notable historical landmarks in La Jolla, many of them beautiful homes with unique architectural styles:

• Heritage Place La Jolla (Landmark #128): A structure built in 1917, moved in 1928.
• Galusha B. Grow Cottage (Landmark #133): A cottage built in 1895, moved in 1979.
• George Kautz House (Landmark #179): A house built in 1913, associated with Irving Gill.
• Casa de Manana-Casa Madre (Landmark #212): Built in 1924, associated with architect Edgar Ulrich.
• Casa de Manana (Landmark #213): Built in 1924, associated with architect Edgar Ulrich.
• Morgan-Larkins-Marrone Residence (Landmark #226): An English Tudor Revival house built in 1931 and 1935, designed by Edgar Ulrich.
• Dr. Rodes House-Brockton Villa (Landmark #286): Built in 1894, a companion to the Red Roof & Red Roost cottages.
• Coast Walk Trail and Devil's Slide Footbridge (Landmark #288): A trail renovated in 1931.
• Colonial Inn project sites (Landmark #294): Sites at 915, 921, 925, 927 Coast Boulevard, designated on January 30, 1991.
• Martha Kinsey Residence (Landmark #314): A house built in 1937, associated with Lilian Rice.
• Darlington House (Landmark #327): A Mediterranean style house built in 1925.
• Prospect View/Redwood Hollow (Landmark #347): An example of a La Jolla bungalow cottage court vacation retreat.
• Oxley House (Landmark #368): A California Modern style house built in 1958, designed by Richard Neutra.
• Carey Crest-El Paradon Seacliffe House (Landmark #386): A structure built between 1900 and 1901.
• Kenyon Residence (Landmark #413): An architectural application of adobe brick construction in modern style.
• Violetta Horton Speculation House #1 (Landmark #416): A Ranch style house built in 1935, designed by Clifford May.
• Violetta Horton Speculation House #2 (Landmark #417): Another Ranch style house built in 1935, designed by Clifford May.
• Grace Scripps Johanson (Landmark #431): A Colonial Revival style house built in 1937.
• Judkins/J.L. Wright House (Landmark #432): A Modern style house built in 1946, designed by John Lloyd Wright.
• Devanney Residence (Landmark #433): An American Craftsman style house built around 1905.
• Dolly's House (Landmark #449): A Spanish Revival house built in 1930.
• LaCrosse House (Landmark #463): A Victorian Stick and American Craftsman style house built in 1900.
• Smith-Sirigo House (Landmark #480): A Spanish eclectic style house built in 1937.
• Erling Rhode Residence (Landmark #498): A Craftsman cottage built in 1912.
• Adams Residence-La Canada (Landmark #502): A Spanish Colonial Revival house built in 1929.
• Fleet-Rice-Hoyt House (Landmark #508): A Monterey style house built between 1936 and 1937, designed by Lilian Jenette Rice.
• Mabel Scruggs/Thomas L. Shepherd House (Landmark #514): A Ranch style house built in 1940, designed by Thomas Shepherd.
• Casa de la Paz-The Dunes (Landmark #520): A Spanish eclectic style house built in 1922.
• A.W. Woods House (Landmark #521): A Craftsman bungalow built in 1913.
• Dr. Harold C. & Frieda Daum Urey/Russell Forester House (Landmark #528): A California Ranch style house built in 1954, designed by Russell Forester.
• Elizabeth Starr House (Landmark #542): A Tudor Revival house built in 1928.
• Col. John Wretts & Helen Cecilia Hannay House (Landmark #545): A Folk Victorian style house built in 1907.
• Harry Okey House (Landmark #552): A Spanish eclectic house built in 1929.
• William T. MacDonald/Richard Requa House (Landmark #570): A Spanish eclectic house built in 1933, designed by Richard Requa.
• Mittie Churcher House (Landmark #587): An English cottage variant of a Tudor Revival home built in 1922.
• Carlos Tavares/Herbert Mann House (Landmark #596): A Spanish eclectic house built around 1931.
• Richard Olney/Sim Bruce Richards House (Landmark #615): A Modern house built in 1954.
• James and Caroline Whittlesey/Robert Farquhar House (Landmark #622): A French eclectic house built in 1937.
• Esther Morrison House (Landmark #624): A Spanish eclectic Monterey style house built in 1928.
• Katharine Smith/Thomas Shepherd House (Landmark #630): A French eclectic house with Mediterranean influences built in 1929.
• Spindthrift archeological site #2 (Landmark #638): Another archaeological site.
• Myrtle Parker Swain House (Landmark #639): A Spanish eclectic style house built in 1929.
• Williams Scripps Kellogg House (Landmark #678): A Ranch house built in 1938.
• Violetta Horton/Cliff May Spec House #3 (Landmark #679): A Ranch house built in 1935, designed by Cliff May.
• R. W. Gillespie House (Landmark #688): A Spanish eclectic style house built in 1929.
• Lester Palmer/Herbert Mann & Thomas Shepherd House (Landmark #689): A Spanish eclectic style house built in 1927.
• Florence Palmer House (Landmark #692): An English cottage built in 1929.
• George and Ruth Glendon/Edgar Ullrich House (Landmark #693): A Spanish eclectic style house built in 1928.
• Mansfield and Katherine Mills House (Landmark #702): A Modern style house built in 1958, designed by Dale Naegle.
• Lowry McClanahan/Thomas Shepherd House (Landmark #710): A Colonial Revival house built in 1937.
• Violetta Lee Horton Spec House #4 (Landmark #731): A one-story modern hacienda house built in 1935, designed by Clifford May.
• Edgar Ullrich House (Landmark #740): A Tudor style house built in 1925, designed by Edgar Ullrich.
• Louise and Thomas Rothwell/Thomas Shepherd House (Landmark #757): A Spanish eclectic house built in 1927.
• Uriah and Clara Barkey House (Landmark #759): A Spanish eclectic house built in 1929, one of the "Seven Sisters."
• Ada Black/Herbert Mann and Thomas Shepherd House (Landmark #763): A Spanish eclectic house built in 1927.
• F. Lisle Morgan Spec House #1 (Landmark #767): A Spanish eclectic house built in 1930.
• Frank and Gloria Compton/John Lloyd Wright House (Landmark #768): A Modern style house built in 1948.
• Wheeler Bailey/Irving Gill House (Landmark #782): A Craftsman and International style house built in 1907, designed by Irving Gill.
• Howard and Maude Brown House (Landmark #805): A Spanish eclectic house built in 1929.
• Marie Louise Biggar/Herbert J. Mann House (Landmark #812): A Pueblo Revival style house built in 1923.
• Spindthrift archeological site #3 (Landmark #813): Another archaeological site.
• Hazel Weir/Dennstedt Company House/Spindthrift archeological site #4 (Landmark #818): A Spanish eclectic Monterey style house built in 1935.
• Harold and Charlotte Muir House (Landmark #827): A Spanish eclectic house built in 1928.
• Philip Barber/Herbert Mann and Thomas Shepherd Spec House #1 (Landmark #829): A Tudor style house built in 1928.
• Charles D. and Laura K. Larkins House (Landmark #830): A Colonial house with Spanish influences built in 1931.
• Karsten and Susan Joehnk/Thomas Shepherd House (Landmark #833): A Spanish eclectic house built in 1928.
• Leon Beatty Spec House #1 (Landmark #842): A Ranch house with French Revival influences built in 1949.
• Cassius & Kate Peck/Thomas Shepherd House (Landmark #849): A Ranch minimal traditional house built in 1948.
• Clyde and Arabelle Hufbauer House (Landmark #854): A Post and beam modern house built in 1952.
• Casa Del Horizonte (Landmark #858): A Contemporary style bungalow built in 1947.
• H.R. and Olga McClintock/Herbert Palmer and Milton Sessions House (Landmark #866): A Spanish eclectic style house built in 1927.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in San Diego County
• List of San Diego Historic Landmarks in the Point Loma and Ocean Beach areas
• List of San Diego Historic Landmarks (1-150)