California Attractions

Watts Towers of  Simon Rodia State Historic Park 

1765 E. 107th St.
Los Angeles, CA
parks.ca.gov

Just a block away from MetroRail station blue line in Watts, California, the Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park are open free to see with docent led tours occurring weekly to help you understand the history behind the towering structures.  Tile & stone decorated edifices require you get up close and personal to admire the incredible amount of detail and labor that went into creating the massive collection.

The Watts Towers are comprised of 17 sculptural pieces made of steel pipes and rods, wrapped with wire mesh, coated with mortar, and embedded with pieces of porcelain, tile and glass. Two towers are nearly 100 feet in the sky!

Much speculation has gone into the inspiration and what drove Simon Rodia to create Watts Towers. The Italian immigrant, Simon Rodia,  spent 30 years (1921 to 1955) building a tribute to his adopted country and a monument to the spirit of individuals who make their dreams tangible.   The Watts Towers, one of only nine works of folk art listed on the National Register of Historic Places,  is one of four US National Historic Landmarks in the city of Los Angeles, managed by Los Angeles City Cultural Affairs Department for California State Parks. 

A City of Los Angeles recreation center is next to The Watts Towers and there are tours and special events throughout the year at this location.

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