Living in San Diego, California, for a little bit of time in my life, I really fell in love with natural landscapes, oceans, and the desert climates that were only a short hike away. And as such, there weren’t many structures that left me  awestruck  compared to the natural beauty of the area, but San Diego architecture has a lot to love and many impressive buildings as it is a major Southern California  city. But one  of the structures I loved to visit during family hiking expeditions was Mount Soledad Memorial. It isn’t a building but the amount of detail and design put into it always impressed me.

Mount Soledad Memorial’s present structure was built in the 1954 and was designed by architect Donald Campbell. It has come under scrutiny over the years by opponents who say that it is a clear violation of separation of  church and state. But I find the use of marble walls, concrete, and landscaping melds well with the surrounding San Diego scenery. But as of recently, I believe the land that this memorial is now privately owned and cannot be taken down unless by federal court order.