Another Stop On Mike Nelson's Virtual Tour of San Diego
Mt. Soledad Natural Park

One of the most interesting and disputed sites in San Diego is the Mt. Soledad Natural Park, located in the community of La Jolla. The view is almost always spectacular. But for a number of years, the fate of the park has been tied up in the courts because there is a war memorial in the park that is shaped like a cross. Click the pictures for a bigger view.

The view. The park offers a breathtaking view of San Diego County from Point Loma to the south, across the border into Mexico to the southeast, to Mt. Miguel and the east County, to the Cuyamaca and Laguna mountains to the east, to Mt. Palomar to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. One of the most delightful views is watching the hot air balloon from Del Mar and North County drift in the breeze. It offers terrific views of MCAS Miramar and the Golden Triangle. Here is a shot of the Mormon temple completed just a few years ago.

The history. The current memorial is the third one on the site. The first, made of wood, was put up during WWI. It burned down in the 1920s. A stucco cross replaced it and stood until it blew down in 1952. The present cross was put up in 1952 by the Mount Soledad Memorial Association which was founded by American Legion Post 275 in 1952 to replace the memorial and to maintain it. The plaque reads: "Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Cross. Dedicated in 1954, as a tribute to all branches of the Armed Forces of U.S.A. servicemen and women. This plaque dedicated November 11, 1989. Mt. Soledad Memorial Association, City Beautiful San Diego."

The controversy. In 1989, Phil Paulson, an atheist, sued the city of San Diego, arguing that the presence of a cross on city property violated the separation of church and state according to the State Constitution. So far, the courts have agreed. One of the steps that the city took was to sell the 15 x 15 foot parcel that the cross sits on to the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association for $14,500.

The judge ruled against the city on that approach. At this time, the case is in limbo. For more info, click here from www.sandiegoinsider.com.

My opinion. I think it is a bunch of ado over nothing. Face it. It's a war memorial--and has been for at least 45 years. It's been maintained by a secular organization. It would be impossible to allege the American Legion to be a religious organization. I do not see any church specifically being endorsed by the presence of the cross. I don't see anyone worshipping at the foot except churches who like any other organization can RENT the park for private purposes. I see it for what it is--a memorial to servicemen and women who have served in the US armed forces.

I also disgree with Paulson's contention that the cross be moved to Mt. Soledad Presbyterian Church. It's not their cross and never has been.

I would hate to see someone buy the park because it would probably remove access to the public due to liabilities and frivolous lawsuits.

your comments are welcome. Send email. Your email may be posted to another page regardin Mt. Soledad [with your permission, of course].

That's all for now. Watch for more pictures including some panorama shots in the near future.

This page was last updated on 05/10/98. Address: https://members.tripod.com/~m_nelson/soledad.htm