Watts - Simon Rodia Towers 
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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In 33 years of work he completed four towers, two of which are 112ft/34m high, and represent perhaps the most complete example of folk-art today.
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.
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.
Simon Rodia Towers
1727 East 107th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90002-3621
United States
1727 East 107th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90002-3621
United States
Phone 1 (213) 847-4646
Fax 1 (323) 564-7030
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Always closed on:
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
| Adult | $ 7.00 |
| Senior | $ 3.00 |
| Child 17 & under | $ 3.00 |
| Child 12 & under | FREE |
Related Attractions
Watts Towers Arts Center
The Watts Towers are a set of 17 separate sculptural pieces by Simon Rodia. Located on a residential lot, the sculptures are constructed from steel pipes and rods, wrapped with wire mesh, coated with mortar, and embedded with pieces of porcelain, tile and glass. Simon was an Italian immigrant who spent 30 years working on this monument.
