2 min readWould you, could you buy this house? Well, somebody just did. Settled on the prominent landmark Mount Soledad with expansive views out to the Pacific, Dr. Seuss’s historic home just sold for $9 million. From this La Jolla perch, the legendary author Theodore Seuss Geisel lived and worked for decades, closely tying the home to the most productive period of his career.
Geisel purchased the home—originally just a Spanish Revival observation tower built in 1924—in 1948, along with the surrounding lot. The 5,004-square-foot, four bedroom residence on a 1.5 acre lot was designed and completed by architect Thomas L. Shepherd in 1950. Shepherd is known for his work on the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club and the Marine Room.
The home is organized around the original tower and positioned to capture ocean and coastline views from most living spaces, including a separate pool house added during a 2008 renovation. The tower and adjoining office are designated historic by the City of San Diego and must remain intact, even through future renovations.
In 2018, the property was transferred to the University of California, San Diego by the Geisel Fund after Theodore Geisel’s wife, Audrey passed. In 2025, three parcels of undeveloped land were sold for $9 million, and now, UCSD is bidding off the home and its surrounding 1.5 acres as the final parcel.
The property was offered as a sealed-bid sale by the Jason Barry Team, with bids delivered to The Regents of the University of California Real Estate Services & Strategies. This sale benefits the Geisel Fund at The University of California, San Diego Foundation.