National Register of Historic Places

Watts Station

Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Listed
March 15, 1974
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
74000523

About this property

Watts Station is a train station built in 1904 in Watts, Los Angeles, California. It was one of the first buildings in Watts, and for many years, it was a major stop for the Pacific Electric Railway's "Red Car" service between Los Angeles and Long Beach. It was the only structure that remained intact when stores along 103rd Street in Watts were burned in the 1965 Watts riots. Remaining untouched in the middle of the stretch of street that came to be known as "Charcoal Alley", the station became a symbol of continuity, hope, and renewal for the Watts community. It has since been declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Location

1686 E. 103rd St.
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
33.94305, -118.24314

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTTRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURECOMMUNICATIONS
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Watts Station

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Watts Happening Cultural Center
Industrial
0.2 mi
Watts Towers of Simon Rodia
Listed
0.3 mi
Lynwood Pacific Electric Railway Depot
Industrial
2.2 mi
52nd Place Historic District
Civil War
3.8 mi
Muir, John, Branch
Industrial
3.8 mi

Nearby Battles

Watts Riots 1965
1965Modern
0.9 mi
Mexican-American War — Battle of La Mesa
1847Mexican-American War
3.5 mi
Rancho Dominguez — Battle of the Old Woman's Gun
1846Mexican-American War
3.7 mi
Mexican-American War — Battle of Rio San Gabriel
1847Mexican-American War
4.6 mi
Battle of Rio San Gabriel River Crossing
1847Mexican-American War
4.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Watts Station listed on the National Register?

Watts Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 15, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Watts Station?

Watts Station is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Watts Station?

The period of significance for Watts Station is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Watts Station?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Watts Station will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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