Mount Soledad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Soledad |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 824 ft (251 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 472 ft (144 m) |
| Geography | |
 Mt. Soledad
Location in Northwestern San Diego
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| Location | La Jolla, San Diego, County, California, U.S. |
| Topo map | USGS La Jolla OE W |
Mount Soledad is a well-known landmark in San Diego, California, United States. This mountain is famous for the Mount Soledad Cross at its top. For 25 years, there was a big disagreement about whether a religious symbol like the cross should be on government land. This issue was finally settled in 2016.
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Geography of Mount Soledad
This hill is about 824 feet (251 meters) tall. It sits between Interstate 5 to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Most of Mount Soledad is in the community of La Jolla.
The northern and eastern sides of the mountain have a steep slope. This steep drop-off is called an escarpment. It was formed by the Rose Canyon Fault, which is a crack in the Earth's crust. The community of Pacific Beach is on the gentler southern slope.
Many radio and television towers are on the mountain's peak. These include stations like KFMB-TV and KGTV. Airplanes flying to San Diego International Airport from Los Angeles often use Mount Soledad as a guide. It helps them begin their final approach to the airport.
Landslide Event
On October 3, 2007, a major landslide happened on Mount Soledad. One house on Soledad Mountain Road was destroyed. Five other houses were damaged, and more than 20 homes had to be emptied.
The city of San Diego had noticed problems before the landslide. They saw water and gas leaks starting in July 2007. Cracks in the road pavement also appeared in August 2007.
The Legend of Munchkin Land
There's a fun urban legend about Mount Soledad. It says that in the 1930s, a group of little people came to San Diego. These actors had appeared in Hollywood movies, like The Wizard of Oz. The story claims they built tiny houses on Mount Soledad.
This legend grew because some houses were built on very steep slopes. When people looked down at them, the doors and other parts seemed smaller than they really were. Most of these "Munchkin Houses" have been changed over time. So, the special effect of them looking tiny is no longer there.
Dr. Seuss's Last Home
Mount Soledad was the last home of the famous writer Dr. Seuss. His wife, Audrey Geisel, lived at the top of the mountain. Her large home had a special observation tower. Locals often called it the Seuss house. Audrey Geisel lived there until she passed away in 2018.
Cycling on Mount Soledad
Mount Soledad is a very popular spot for cycling. It has many long, steady climbs and usually light traffic. The amazing views also make it a great place to ride bikes.
There are different routes for cyclists. Some are easier, like the 3.5-mile (5.6 km) climb up Soledad Mountain Road. Others are very steep and short, like the 1.25-mile (2 km) Hidden Valley Road to Via Capri route on the north side.
The Mount Soledad Cross
A large concrete Christian cross stands on top of Mount Soledad. The first cross was built there in 1913. It has been rebuilt two times since then. The current cross was put up in 1954. It was first called the Mount Soledad Easter Cross, but the word "Easter" was removed in the 1980s.
In the late 1980s, people started to question if the cross should be on government land. To address this, it was made a Korean War memorial. However, it still caused a big argument about religious symbols on public property.
In January 2011, a court ruled that having the cross on government land was against the law. In June 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear the case. This meant the earlier court ruling would stand.
In July 2015, a group called the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association bought the land under the cross. They paid $1.4 million to the Department of Defense. Because the land was no longer owned by the government, the legal case ended. On September 7, 2016, a court officially dismissed the case. Both sides agreed that this decision finally resolved the long-running issue.
