Tower of Wooden Pallets facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tower of Wooden Pallets |
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Tower of Wooden Pallets, circa 1953
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| Location | 15357 Magnolia Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, California |
| Built | 1951 |
| Architect | Daniel Van Meter |
| Designated | April 19, 1978 |
| Reference no. | 184 |
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The Tower of Wooden Pallets was a very unusual structure. It was built from many old, unused wooden pallets. A man named Daniel Van Meter created it. This unique tower was even named a "Historic Cultural Monument" by the city of Los Angeles. This means it was considered an important part of the city's history. It was located at 15357 Magnolia Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, California.
Building the Tower
In 1951, Daniel Van Meter found thousands of wooden pallets. These pallets were about 3 feet by 3 feet in size. They had been thrown away by a local brewing company. Van Meter got an idea to build something with them. He collected five truckloads of these old pallets. Then, he started building a tower in his backyard.
The tower was shaped like a beehive or a cone. It was made from about 2,000 wooden pallets. The bottom of the tower was 22 feet wide. When it was finished, the tower stood over 20 feet tall. It took Van Meter several weeks to build this amazing structure. The top of the tower had an opening that was 13 feet across. Inside the tower, there was a "room" with outdoor patio furniture.
A Special Monument
In 1953, local building inspectors were not sure how to describe Van Meter's tower. They finally decided it was just a wooden "fence". So, they did not take any action for over 20 years. The building department left him and his unique "folk art" alone.
However, in 1977, the city fire department got involved. They said the tower was "an illegally stacked lumber pile." They told Van Meter he had to tear it down. But Van Meter was very clever. He convinced the Cultural Heritage Commission and the city of Los Angeles to give his tower a special status.
In 1978, the tower was officially named Historic Cultural Monument No. 184. This special title protected Van Meter's tower. It meant the tower could stay as long as he lived there or until he moved.
The Tower's Legacy
Daniel Van Meter lived to be 87 years old. He passed away in 1998. Many people thought his tower of wooden pallets was one of a kind. They considered him an "outside artist" because his art was so unique.
In 2006, the rest of the Tower of Pallets was finally taken down. Van Meter's family sold the land for a lot of money. A large apartment building with 98 units was built where the tower once stood. There are plans to have a special display about the Tower of Pallets in the lobby of the new apartment building.
Van Meter once said something important when he was trying to save his tower. He said that soon, this land might be covered by buildings for many people. But he hoped his strange tower could remain. He wanted it to be a peaceful place for an individual, someone who remembered how wonderful the valley used to be.
