Simi Valley in Ventura County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village
Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 18, 2007
1. Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village Marker
Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village
This fantastic assemblage is one of California's remarkable Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments. In 1956, Tressa Prisbrey, then nearly 60 years old, started building a fanciful "village" of shrines, walkways, sculptures, and buildings from recylced items and discards from the local dump. She worked for 25 years creating one structure after another to house her collections. Today, Bottle Village is composed of 13 buildings and 20 sculptures.
California Registered Historical Landmark No. 939.
Grandyma Prisbrey's Bottle Village
Created entirely from discarded objects, bottle village is the first folk-art environment in the county to be recognized as a State Historical Landmark. Grandma Prisbrey began the village in 1956 at the age of 61 and completed it in 1965. Her creation demonstrates to us the wisdom and creativity of our elders.
Ventura County Landmark No. 52.
Erected 1984 by State Department of Parks and Recreation with cooperation with Preserve Bottle Village. (Marker Number 939.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks
this page online
Location. 34° 16.748′ N, 118° 42.276′ W. Marker is in Simi Valley, California, in Ventura County. Marker is on Cochran Street west of Fig Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4595 Cochran St, Simi Valley CA 93063, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. In Memory of Those Who Perished (approx. 0.9 miles away); Heritage Oak (approx. 1.3 miles away); Simi Elementary School (approx. 2 miles away); Santa Susana Railroad Depot (approx. 2.8 miles away); Fort Apache (approx. 3 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Apache (approx. 3 miles away); Vendetta Village (approx. 3 miles away); Silvertown (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Simi Valley.
More about this marker. This is one of nearly a dozen California Historical Landmarks with the number 939 - Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments (Thematic).
Regarding Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village. On January 17, 1994, the 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake struck the area. The epicenter was 8 miles from Bottle Village and caused serious damage.
In
Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 18, 2007
2. Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village Marker
In November 1996, Bottle Village signed for the approved $485,000 in earthquake repair money from FEMA.
In January 1997, local Congressman Elton Gallegly writes Bill HR175 against Bottle Village receiving any Federal money, calling this money a “waste”.
In March 1997, even though this Bill was tabled, FEMA rescinded the grant, citing political concerns.
May to December 1997, Bottle Village files appeals to FEMA, which failed to overturn FEMA’s decision.
Also see . . . Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village. Website homepage (Submitted on January 4, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California.)
Photographed By Craig Baker, May 2, 2021
3. National Register of Historic Places
Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 18, 2007
4. Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village Markers
Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 18, 2007
5. Entrance to Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village
Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 18, 2007
6. Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village
Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 18, 2007
7. Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village
Photographed By Michael Kindig, August 18, 2007
8. Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village
Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 28, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,068 times since then and 19 times this year. Last updated on May 1, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 28, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 3. submitted on May 4, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on December 28, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on January 3, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
