La Jolla in San Diego in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Ellen Browning Scripps

In Memory of

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 7, 2025

1. In Memory of Ellen Browning Scripps Marker

Inscription. Oct. 18, 1836 – Aug. 3, 1932
This Building, Her Former Home, Was Given
by the People of La Jolla as an Art Center
and is Dedicated by Them to Her Memory in
Appreciation of Her Many Benefactions
Oct. 18, 1941

Erected 1941.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is August 3, 1932.

Location. 32° 50.676′ N, 117° 16.675′ W. Marker is in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. It is in La Jolla. It is on Prospect Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 700 Prospect Street, La Jolla CA 92037, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Peninsular Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. James-By-The-Sea Episcopal Church Fountain (within shouting distance of this marker); La Jolla Woman’s Club Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); San Diego Bottom Scratchers Dive Club (approx. half a mile away); San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park (approx. half a mile away); Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.9 miles away); John “Manila John” Basilone

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(approx. 2 miles away); Conserving California's Coastal Treasures (approx. 2.8 miles away); Surfer's Memorial (approx. 2.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Diego.

Also see . . .
1. Ellen Browning Scripps (1836-1932). An excellent biography of Helen Browning Scripp's life and philanthropy.

In her philanthropies no one knows just how much money Ellen Browning Scripps gave away during the last thirty years of her life, but it was in the millions. Schools, colleges, hospitals, research institutions, children’s playgrounds, zoological gardens, the Young Women’s and Young Men’s Christian associations, churches of many denominations, natural history societies and private individuals were the recipients of this generous woman’s gifts and bequests. In La Jolla, where she made her home the last thirty-five years of her life, her public spirit stands immortalized in the gifts she made for the benefit of the public, among them the Woman’s Club, the Public Library, the Scripps Memorial Hospital and Metabolic Clinic, the Bishop’s School, the Community House and Playgrounds, Children’s Pool, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and financial aid in building the churches in that
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 7, 2025

2. Ellen Browning Scripps Marker
The marker can be seen in the portico to the right of the main entrance.
community; in San Diego, the Natural History Museum, the Zoological Garden and Research Laboratory located in Balboa Park, and the Welfare Building, housing the welfare activities of the city.

(Submitted on August 4, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)

2. Ellen Browning Scripps. An excellent webpage dedicated to Ellen Browning Scripps, featuring documents that highlight Scripps' philanthropic contributions to the La Jolla community.

“The most important and beautiful gift one human being can give to another is, in some way, to make life a little better to live.” Ellen Browning Scripps devoted herself to consistently implementing her words into action. She died at the age of 96, but her philanthropy continued well beyond her death. Her contributions during her lifetime, and through her legacy, led to the development of many notable places, organizations, and cultural institutions around San Diego and ensured that these places will serve San Diego for generations to come.

(Submitted on August 4, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)

Ellen Browning Scripps Former Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 7, 2025

3. Ellen Browning Scripps Former Home

Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 106 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 4, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.