South Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Egyptian Obelisk

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 27, 2022

1. Egyptian Obelisk Marker

Inscription.
Egyptian Hieroglyphics are a style of writing that uses symbols or pictures to represent an idea, a word, or a sound. Many of these emblems were based on hand signs that were used as an unspoken language.

Scarab - Represents the Sun God and renewed life.
Ankh - Symbol for Infinity and a sign of life.
Body of Water - The place from which all things arise.
Lotus Blossom - Represents the sun, creation and rebirth.
Clenched Hand - The symbol of action.
Eye of Horus - Protects all things.
Ibis - Represents the God of Scribes: Art, Writing and Mathematics.
The symbols for Watts are based on the sound of each letter. (Marker Number 36.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Arts, Letters, Music • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument series list.

Location. 33° 56.585′ N, 118° 14.562′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in South Los Angeles. It is at the intersection of 103rd Street and Graham Avenue, on the right when traveling east on 103rd Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1686 E 103rd St, Los Angeles CA 90002, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse 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.

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At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Watts Towers (approx. 0.3 miles away); Maya Obelisk (approx. 0.4 miles away); Eagle Tree (approx. 3 miles away); Augustus F. Hawkins (approx. 3.3 miles away); Heritage House (approx. 3.6 miles away); Leon “Ted” Garr Square (approx. 3.9 miles away); Jesse Owens (approx. 3.9 miles away); Vernon Branch Library (approx. 4.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

More about this marker. Located at the Watts Historic Train Station, built in 1904 for the Pacific Electric Railway on land donated by Charles H. Watts. It is the only building on 103rd Street that survived the 1965 Watts Riots. Declared Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 36 in December 1965, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Regarding Egyptian Obelisk.
The Egyptian and Mayan Obelisks (see nearby marker) were done during a period of time when the Community Redevelopment Agency managed the property in the 1990s. They no longer oversee the site. The Obelisks bookend what is referred to as the "Cultural Crescent" — The Historic Watts Train Station was built in 1904, and "Nuestro Pueblo" (Watts Towers) built 1921-1954 by Sabato Rodia. The African and Meso-American inspired architecture/structures is a reflection

Egyptian Obelisk and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 27, 2022

2. Egyptian Obelisk and Marker

of the current demographics of the community. The property is now managed by Cultural Affairs - City of Los Angeles. There are plans to redesign and landscape the property in the near future.
-information provided by Watts Towers Arts Center in 2024.

Watts Train Station image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 27, 2022

3. Watts Train Station

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 27, 2022

4. Watts Train Station

Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 1,110 times since then and 110 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 21, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.