Old Paradise Depot

Historical marker location:

502 Pearson Road, Paradise, California

( Marker is on Black Olive Drive north of Pearson Road, on the right when traveling north.)

Marker installed: 1982

In 1965, the Watts Riots erupted in Los Angeles after a police officer arrested a Black man for drunk driving. The six-day riot resulted in 34 deaths, over 1,000 injuries, and $40 million in property damage. The Watts Riots were a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement and helped to spark a nationwide conversation about race relations.