beach boys monument

This is a quick visit that will mainly appeal to fans - just 15-30 minutes to see/read/photograph the monument. It's located on the site where The Beach Boys grew up, formed their band and got their start in the music business. It's a residential area, and the monument is right next to the 105 freeway because the house was torn down when they built the road.

Skip it.When they tear down the freeway (or the expressway behind it) and build a monument worthy of the Beach Boys... then go so it. Until then, the pictures posted are much better than visiting.

This monument is anything but. It is a waste of resident's tax money and is not on the site of anything to do with the beach boys...no house remaining, etc. It is on the end of a street, a stand alone little thing with a bunch of tiles and plaques patting all the local politicians on the back. Avoid.

Somewhere I heard someone say that one of the most important things that one can do with his life is to create something that will outlast it. That is what the Beach Boys did with their ever popular music which they shared with the world. A fitting monument has been erected to their genius in front of where their boyhood home used to stand on West 119th Street in Hawthorne, California between Doty and Kornblum. I appreciated the time that I spent at the monument. It is free to the public and is California Historical Landmark #1041.

Since my last visit to see the Monument where their childhood house stood, new houses have replace the ones similar to what they would have lived in. However, just to be where they made that first tape, Surfin, is a special thing for any Beach Boys fan. Its worth reading the bricks and seeing who contributed is well worth time spent there. My daughter is now living in California and doing all the things i dreamed of.

It was very nice to see the monument and free. We spent about 20 minutes reading and taking pictures.

Whenever we visit California we always visit this monument to celebrate the Home of the Wonderful Wilsons.Their boyhood home was knocked down to make way for a freeway.....Americans always value tradition!!!!!Anyway there is now a monument in its place.For a fee,fans of the Beach Boys can purchase an engraved brick for posterity.In the area you can also see Fosters Freeze where Fun Fun Fun was written.

Do you remember when songs were nice and happy, without violence, drug references and profanity? If not, listen to the harmonious tunes of the Beach Boys. I would rather hear an upbeat song, than a song about being beat up.As a California girl, I grew up listening to the Beach Boys, in my room and everywhere else. My friends and I would eat at the same Foster Freeze as the Beach Boys, in a different decade.The monument itself is in the actual location of the Wilsons’ front lawn and the rest of the land where the house stood is an embankment and freeway. It is only fitting that this attractive landmark, replacing part of the band’s home, resembles a giant brick fireplace. This is where the band first started and recorded their hit song, “Surfin”, changing the music industry. People who donated to the monument each made inscriptions on their brick. Some bricks merely have Beach Boys song or album titles like “Endless Summer” or witty lyrics quotes and their donor name. Others bricks are poignant, remembering the band members who have passed on and the joy that the Beach Boy’s music brought into their lives. There are even two dedications for people who were in the service: to all veterans still with us and all fallen veterans. Each band member has their name engraved on a brick with a gold colored 45 record-shaped background. The solid white mural, located on the upper middle of the monument, depicts the Beach Boys. It is fashioned after the “Surfer Girl” album, but with all six band members, instead of five. I would have liked to have seen a more detailed, colorized, portrait of the band, instead of a general characterization of them. Some websites give poor advice by informing people to enter directly on 119th Street, in Hawthorne, to the monument. The small streets, in Hawthorne, like 119th interconnect, curve and dead-end in a maze. Don’t get lost, the way we did.In an effort to help make your trip to the monument more enjoyable, here are the following directions to get around, on the town:From the Los Angeles Airport, to avoid the freeways: (Go during daylight hours).Take Century Blvd., go east to AviationTurn right on Aviation, heading south to 120th St.Turn left on 120th St. going east to Kornblum St.You will cross Prairie Avenue. The next traffic light is Doty. The very next street is Kornblum without a traffic light.Crenshaw Blvd. is too far.The Hawthorne airport will be on your (right) side of the street.Turn left on Kornblum, following this street all the way down to the monument. Kornblum curves left and ends at 119th Street. The monument is on the right.Rush hours traffic on the freeway is: weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., but by the Los Angeles airport, it is usually busy. The best time to travel on the freeways are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and after 8:00 p.m. to usually the rest of the night until 6:00 a.m. See the landmark in the daytime, while there is light.From the Los Angeles airport, by the freeway, to the monument:Coming out of the airport on Century Blvd., going eastTurn right on Sepulveda Blvd., (pronounced Sah-paul-va-duh.)Stay in the right lane Take the 105 EastGet off on the Crenshaw Blvd. EXIT only, STAY in the right lane(The freeway lets out on 120th Street)Turn right onto 120th StreetThe Hawthorne airport will be across the street.Kornblum has no traffic light and comes up fast, so look for the street sign. It is one block before the first traffic light on Doty. Doty is one block too far.Turn right onto Kornblum and follow it all the way down to the monument. Kornblum curves towards the left and ends on 119th Street. The monument is on the right.The immediate neighbor, by this landmark, has become richer since the band has lived here. There are a few newer, well maintained, larger add-ons, Mcmansion style houses. The environment is clean and quiet, considering the close proximity of the freeway.There are plenty of photo opportunities, as there is a red curb in front of the monument and therefore; it is clear of obstructions. Parking is free, a little distance down or across the street. This will be a short visit to read the placard, inscriptions on the bricks and take pictures.Bring your camera and Beach Boy tunes and add some music to your day. Do wop, ooo, woo.

Hey, we're talking the Beach Boys here. Worth a side trip to see a bit of history. Easy to find and not a crowd in sight.

It looks like an overgrown brick bbq from the 50's with a plaque commemorating where a house associated with the beachboys once stood. I think it was torn down for the freeway.You can find something better to do with your time

As a life long Beach Boys fan and visitor from England i was determined to visit this landmark. It was not the easiest place to find and i had to ask a number of times for directions. The images of the group members are not as realistic as i had hoped for but i was impressed by the brick work and inscriptions. It took Liverpool some time to acknowledge the Beatles landmarks and it is great to see this permanant reminder to America's greatest band.

This unassuming blue-collar town is where the Beach Boys grew up, picked up their guitars and changed the world. Their family home is gone but a small memorial has been built to honor the contribution the boys made to music and California's image.A few minutes from LAX, its a great place to spend some extra time.

Nao deixem de conhecer o Beach Boys Monument, o local é muito bem localizado, com muitas obras de arte para serem exibidas. Um cafezinho maravilhoso para animar a estadia