Early Tourism

Historical marker location:

Yosemite National Park, California

( Marker can be reached from Northside Drive, on the right when traveling west.)

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.