Watts - Simon Rodia Towers 
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The tower, named after its builder Simon Rodia, stands in East 107th Street No. 1765, and you can reach it via the Harbor Freeway, exit 14, Gage Avenue.
In 1921 Simon Rodia, an immigrant builder and carpenter from Naples, began to build "his" four towers from cement, steel poles and wire-netting, clad with something like 70,000 mussel-shells and glass, tile and mirror fragments.
In 1921 Simon Rodia, an immigrant builder and carpenter from Naples, began to build "his" four towers from cement, steel poles and wire-netting, clad with something like 70,000 mussel-shells and glass, tile and mirror fragments.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Simon Rodia
Simon Rodia was certainly no trained architect, but - scorning all help - created buildings with an almost Gothic effect, which can best be compared with the architecture of the Spaniard Antonio Gaudi. When the towers were completed in 1954 he made a present of them to a neighbor, moved to Martinez, a town near San Francisco, and never returned to Watts.
Cultural monument
In 1959 the towers were bought by two young people. Their efforts to prevent their demolition were crowned with success when after four years the sculptured complex was declared a cultural monument.
Address:
Simon Rodia Towers, 1727 East 107th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90002-3621, United States
Phone: 1 (213) 847-4646, Fax: 1 (323) 564-7030
Phone: 1 (213) 847-4646, Fax: 1 (323) 564-7030
Hours:
10am-4pm; Sun: 12pm-4pm; Closed: Mon, Tue
Always closed on: Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Tips: Guided tours: Thursday to Sunday, every 30 minutes until 3pm.
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Spires of Watts Towers in Los Angeles.
