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The man behind the Cat in the Hat called La Jolla home. From the futuristic library named for him at UC San Diego to the holiday musical that started on a Balboa Park stage, here's how to explore Dr. Seuss's San Diego.
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Dr. Seuss — Theodor Seuss Geisel — moved to La Jolla in 1948 and lived there until his death in 1991. The essential stops are Geisel Library at UC San Diego (named for him and his wife Audrey), which holds the Dr. Seuss Collection of original drawings, manuscripts and memorabilia and displays a bronze Lorax statue; the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park, where Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! has run each holiday season since 1998; and Legends Gallery in La Jolla Village, which carries authorized Seuss art and sculptures. His former home sits on Mount Soledad and is private, but the neighborhood and views around it shaped much of his work.
| Stop | Where | What you'll see | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geisel Library | UC San Diego, La Jolla | Brutalist architecture, Dr. Seuss Collection, Lorax statue | Free to visit; exhibits free |
| Dr. Seuss Collection | Geisel Library, Special Collections & Archives | Original art, manuscripts, sketches, personal items | Free; research appointment for rare items |
| Old Globe Grinch musical | Balboa Park | Annual holiday musical, running since 1998 | $35–$125 |
| Legends Gallery | La Jolla Village | Authorized Dr. Seuss art, prints and sculptures | Free to browse |
| Mount Soledad home | La Jolla | Private residence; not open to public | View from nearby roads/park |
The most visible monument to Seuss in San Diego is also one of the city's most photographed buildings.
UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr · Named 1995
The futuristic concrete-and-glass library was designed by William Pereira and opened in 1970. It was renamed for Audrey and Theodor Geisel in 1995 and now holds the world's largest collection of his original materials. Even if you don't go inside, the building is a San Diego landmark.
Local tip: Park in the Hopkins Parking Structure or Gilman Parking Structure and walk five minutes. The library sits at the head of Library Walk.
Geisel Library, Special Collections & Archives, 2nd floor · Original art, manuscripts, ephemera
More than 8,500 items spanning Seuss's career: original drawings, rough sketches, draft manuscripts, advertising work, political cartoons, sculptures and personal effects. It's the archive researchers use, but rotating selections appear in public exhibitions in the library's gallery spaces.
Local tip: Check the UC San Diego Library events page for current exhibitions. The 2026 'Boids & Beasties' exhibition runs July 14 through September 20 in the Geisel Library Exhibition Gallery.
Geisel Library main floor · Bronze sculpture
A life-size bronze statue of the Lorax stands inside the library, one of the most popular photo stops on campus. It was cast from a Seuss-created sculpture and installed as part of the permanent collection.
Local tip: The statue is accessible during public library hours. Bring a wide-angle lens — the atrium space is dramatic.
Seuss's daily landscape was the coast, the coves and the hills above La Jolla.
La Jolla · Private residence
Geisel bought a house on a hillside below Mount Soledad in 1948 and lived there for the rest of his life. The studio where he wrote and drew looked out over the Pacific. The home is still private, but the surrounding roads and Mount Soledad Park give the same sweeping views that filled his windows.
Local tip: Don't trespass. The best public vantage is Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial at the top of the hill.
La Jolla Village · Authorized Seuss art dealer
A fine-art gallery in La Jolla Village that specializes in authorized Dr. Seuss art, limited-edition prints and bronze sculptures. The window displays often include life-size Seuss characters and are a safe, legal way to see his style up close.
Local tip: Open afternoons Tuesday through Sunday; hours extend on weekends. Even if you're not buying, the window art is worth the walk.
La Jolla · Public
Seuss was known to walk the cliffs above La Jolla Cove and the village. The twisted cypress trees, sea caves and marine-layer fog that roll in each spring are easy to connect to the dreamlike landscapes in his books.
Local tip: Pair a Seuss-themed morning with the Cove, the seals at Children's Pool, and coffee in the village.
The holiday musical that became a San Diego tradition started on a local stage.
Balboa Park, 1363 Old Globe Way · Grinch musical since 1998
The Old Globe's world-premiere production of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! opened in 1998 and has returned every holiday season since. The show is now one of the biggest family tickets in San Diego and has helped make the Globe a holiday destination.
Local tip: Tickets go on sale in late summer. Weekday matinees are less crowded and parking in the Balboa Park lots is easier before 11 a.m.
Balboa Park · Nov–Dec 2026
The 2026 season includes the main Grinch musical plus the world premiere of a fully produced Spanish-language version, ¡Cómo el Grinch robó la Navidad!. Both run in the Globe's main venues.
Local tip: If the English production sells out, the Spanish-language premiere may offer a second chance and a unique experience for bilingual families.
He lived in a hillside home below Mount Soledad in La Jolla from 1948 until his death in 1991. The house is private, but the neighborhood and views are publicly accessible nearby.
Yes. A life-size bronze Lorax statue is on display inside Geisel Library during public hours, free to view.
The archive itself is a research collection, but rotating exhibitions drawn from it are open to the public in the Geisel Library gallery spaces. The 2026 'Boids & Beasties' exhibition runs July 14 to September 20.
Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical premiered at The Old Globe in Balboa Park in 1998 and has returned every holiday season since.
There is no standalone Dr. Seuss museum, but Geisel Library's exhibitions, the Lorax statue, and Legends Gallery in La Jolla together cover most of his local legacy.
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Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking. Last updated .