The Land of Dr. Seuss

The Land of Dr Seuss

If you’ve ever curled up with The Lorax, chuckled at the chaos in The Cat in the Hat, or daydreamed your way through Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, then our next destination is for you. We’re headed to San Diego, home of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.

Here’s how to experience the world of Seuss - no Truffula trees required.
- Cris

Mount Soledad

Start with a View

In 1948, Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, and his first wife, Helen, purchased an old observation tower on Encelia Drive and built their home around it, creating a unique space that offered exceptional views of the Pacific Ocean. This vantage point served as a source of inspiration for many of Geisel's beloved works.​

After Helen's passing in 1967, Geisel married Audrey Stone Dimond in 1968. The couple lived in the La Jolla home until Geisel's death in 1991. Audrey remained in the residence until her own passing in 2018, marking over 70 years of continuous occupancy by the Geisel family.​

Following Audrey's death, ownership of the property transferred to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), in accordance with her wishes. The university listed the estate for sale in 2022, with proceeds designated to establish the Geisel Fund, supporting various campus initiatives.​

The 5,000-square-foot estate, set on over four acres, features three bedrooms, multiple offices, a pool, and panoramic 270-degree views of the La Jolla coastline. Mount Soledad is a very swanky neighborhood that is respected for the highly educated (not just wealthy) residents. Many of these homes are gated. The Geisel property is also stunning but playful, with features such as a hidden room concealed behind a bookshelf.​

The entire estate was listed at $18,995,000, with individual parcels ranging from $3.9 million to just under $12 million. The main house, situated on a 1.51-acre parcel, was priced at $11,995,000. The final sale price for each parcel, and the identity of the buyer(s) were not disclosed because this neighborhood is swanky! It remains a private property.

We Can’t Stop Laughing (or Coloring)

We stumbled across these unhinged, unfiltered, definitely NSFW coloring pages—and now we can’t look away. They’re from a brand so gloriously inappropriate we can’t even print their name. Their website literally warns: “This is not a place for the weak.” If laughter is therapeutic, can we deduct this?

Legends Gallery

The Secret Seuss Museum You Didn’t Know Existed

Tucked along Prospect Street in downtown La Jolla, the Legends Gallery is a true gem for fans of the good doctor. You won’t find giant crowds or velvet ropes—just wall after wall of delightful artwork, much of it authorized by Seuss’s estate.

Here you’ll find sculptures of the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch, and even characters you might not recognize from Seuss’s more obscure works. Some pieces are vibrant and cheeky; others are surprisingly emotional. It’s like walking through a secret portal into the creative mind of a literary genius.

Insider tip: Ask the staff about the “Secret Art” collection—a series of paintings and sketches Seuss never intended to publish. They’re weird, wild, and totally wonderful.

Geisel Library

A Building as Quirky as His Books

Next, make your way to UC San Diego, where the Geisel Library stands like a spaceship that crash-landed and decided to stay. Named after Theodor and Audrey Geisel for their generous contributions, this architectural marvel is one of San Diego’s most iconic buildings.

Look down at the pathway as you walk toward the building and realize it’s a giant playful snake from his books. Outside, you’ll find a life-sized bronze statue of Dr. Seuss seated at a drafting table with the Cat in the Hat perched beside him—an excellent photo op and a must for your Seuss scrapbook. Inside, there’s a collection of rare books, sketches, and Seuss memorabilia waiting to delight you.

Being respectful of the Quiet! floors (this is a working library for students), take the elevator to the top and walk around the floor. Imagine being a student who could gaze out at the ocean while studying! With the excellent baristas in the lobby, architectural beauty of concrete and glass, I would work from here daily if parking wasn’t such a problem. It has the perfect ambiance of quiet study and outrageous imagination.

Each floor contains a different display of Seuss memorabilia and students are generally very tolerant of visitors as long as they are quiet. If the San Diego sun is feeling too hot for you, this is the perfect place to get iced tea and relax.

Take a virtual tour

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."
– Oh, the Places You'll Go!

See you next Wednesday.

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