California, United States
Simon Rodia spent 33 years raising 17 structures of scrap steel and broken tile in his Watts backyard, then deeded the lot away and left Los Angeles without explaining any of it. Two more one-man monuments follow: a museum that will not say which of its exhibits are real, and two concrete dinosaurs off Interstate 10.
Sabato Simon Rodia, an Italian immigrant tile setter, built 17 structures in his Watts backyard from 1921 to 1954, among them towers nearly 100 feet tall, working alone with scavenged steel, broken bottles, seashells, and tile. He then deeded the property to a neighbor and left Los Angeles for good.
Start in Watts, because the next stop does not open until the afternoon.
A museum on Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles that presents genuine scholarship and outright invention in identical vitrines, under identical engraved labels, and declines to tell you which is which. It has never explained what Jurassic Technology means either.
About 35 minutes northwest through the city. The museum is open Thursday through Sunday only, afternoons and evenings, which sets the day for the whole drive. Capacity is limited and a timed ticket booked ahead is the safer option.
Two enormous roadside dinosaurs built by a theme park sculptor outside Palm Springs, made famous worldwide by a single scene in Pee-wee's Big Adventure.
A little over 2 hours east on Interstate 10 toward Palm Springs. The dinosaurs are visible from the highway too, and the gift shop inside Dinny needs no ticket. Ending here rather than starting here puts the late light on the drive out.
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