The view from Athena's eye sockets.

Athena's Hollow Head

If you're here to visit the statue of Cotati's accordion ambassador, you'll spot another prominent sculpture diagonally across Old Redwood Highway: the vacant-eyed head of Athena.

Head of Athena.

Vacant that is, if other tourists aren't looking out of her eye holes at you.

Athena is the daughter of Zeus from ancient Greek mythology, virgin goddess of wisdom, warfare, and a bunch of other virtues. The concrete mask was sculpted and donated by Santa Rosa artist Peter Crompton, unveiled in 2011, and intended as a temporary installation. Due to its popularity, a former city manager paid the artist for the sculpture to assure it would remain in Cotati.

Visitors can step inside the seven ft. tall mask and peer from the eyeholes. Across the way is the cheery statue of Jim Boggio, ancient Cotati's god of polka music and merriment. The park is the locale for the town's annual accordion festival.

Athena's Hollow Head

Sonoma La Plaza

Address:: East Cotati Ave, Cotati, CA
Directions:: Corner of East Cotati Ave and Old Redwood Hwy across from the downtown plaza.

Nearby Offbeat Places

Accordion Master of Cotati, Cotati, CA - < 1 mi.

Menacing Goblins, Santa Rosa, CA - 4 mi.

Gravity Hill, Sonoma, CA - 5 mi.

In the region:

Taj Mahal Houseboat, Sausalito, CA - 34 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in California

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in California.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.