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Watts Towers Arts Center
Categories: Public Services & Government Landmarks & Historical Buildings Local Flavor Landmarks & Historical Buildings, Local Flavor [Edit]
1761 - 1765 E 107th StLos Angeles, CA 90002
Neighborhood: Watts
(213) 847-4646
- Hours:
Wed-Sat 10 am - 4 pm
Sun 12 pm - 4 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
67 reviews for Watts Towers Arts Center
Review Highlights
"Simon Rodia wanted to build something "important."
(in 21 reviews)
"...the visit of an amazing place and amazing story of one man."
(in 14 reviews)
"Do pay the small entry fee for a tour of the towers."
(in 27 reviews)
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67 reviews in English
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Review from Marisol G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Towers are amazing!
It's a shame that after many years of living in LA this was my first time making my way to see them up close. It is truly amazing how long they have been standing and still look wonderful. If you live in LA you must visit! -
Review from Jennifer C.
Los Angeles, CA
1/1/2012
Am I evil for not thinking more of this place?
Basically some Italian guy moved to the neighborhood a really long time ago and started building structures out of tiles and other weird materials and just kinda never stopped. I know the community has really had to rally around making sure nothing happens to it, so that part is beautiful. If you like folk art, this is a good place to go. Maybe I just don't like folk art.
I just read another review. Good point. It is a good place to go to if viewing it from a political/honoring history perspective. A lot has gone into building and keeping it. And the neighborhood itself has gone through a transformation - it is beautiful to think that it now inspires the residents who live by it, since it's not in the best neighborhood.
Takes about 20 min to look around. I think the "tour" was $10. Good to take out-of-towners to. It just seems like they are trying to make more out of the site - with the accompanying little "museum." Apparently though, the jazz festivals in the summer are pretty awesome.
An LA landmark, if that isn't an oxymoron. -
Review from Jaina D.
1/1/2012
This legendary place must be experienced in person.
The woman who guided the tour was the most passionate, knowledgable, friendly docent I have ever witnessed, infusing our group with appreciation and reverence for this masterpiece. -
Review from Ursula M.
Los Angeles, CA
2/6/2012
totally cool and interesting. great staff at the little museum and really good tour guide. this is such an interesting place with amazing history. highly recommended. i would recommend for locals much more than tourists.
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Review from j g.
Los Angeles, CA
12/16/2011
Beautiful, and a real piece of Los Angeles history.
Do yourself a favor -- go in for the $7 tour. The towers are so much more than just what you see. They're the story of one man, and what he chose to do with his life.
Some people say, "But they're so short!" Well, the tallest is 99 feet, so compared to today's high rises I guess that's not much. But think back to the 1920s when he started working. And to the neighborhood where he lived and worked -- which even today has no high rises to compete with his towers.
And how about the fact that he built everything without a single nail, screw or bolt. Also, no ladders. And no scaffolding. And he did it all by himself, with no helpers except the neighboring kids who'd bring him glass bottles. And then one day, he simply walked away from it all. (See what you can learn on the tour?!?)
Not the greatest neighborhood but the direct area around the towers seems safe and friendly enough. -
Review from Mikey H.
7/29/2011
Me: You wanna go where???
He: The Watts Towers
Me: In Watts???
He: Yeah.
Anyone who has studied black history will know what happened in 1965. And as the years progressed, Watts developed a reputation for not being a safe area for non-blacks. However, it's 2011 and things have changed for the better. Following our handy dandy gps iPhone app, we were able to navigate to the towers. What a magnificent piece of artwork! The center offers tours inside the gated towers, but we just admired it by walking around the perimeter. There are signs and pictures with the history of the artist Simon Rodia on one side of the towers.
I've seen these used as backdrops for tv series and films. Rodia created an interesting work of art from household discards, mostly ceramics. There was a gallery exhibit called "From Where I Stand" by photographer Gail Brown. Her workshop centered on the people in Watts and their documentation of their world in words and photographs. A very interesting project that I may modify for my journalism students. There were other works of art in another part of the center which were very interesting. There is also a community garden adjacent to the center. I bought a souvenir book which helps support the center. It's a great place to visit!
A group of people came in to take the tour. When we went outside, we noticed the vans. I guess there's tour groups that bring people in to see the towers.
Me: What? They're afraid to drive in by themselves?
He: Chickenshit assholes! -
Review from Eddie C.
4/15/2011
Well, I can finally mark Watts Towers off my list of landmarks to visit.
I get the history behind it, but really, it looks like a glorified Jungle Gym in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
Visit one and done. -
Review from John B.
Santa Clarita, CA
4/23/2011
Sit down my friends. Relax and I'll tell you a story about a little boy, magic and how sometimes a book can touch your heart.
I was about 7 years old when I wandered into my school library and stumbled across a book about a nutty, old dude who would scrounge through his neighbor's trash and pick out interesting things. Decorative doo-dads, broken bottles, shells, dishes. Then this guy takes the stuff home and sticks them to the outside of the scrounged, homemade, purloined concrete that he's affixed to his scrounged, discovered, re-purposed rebar.
It starts to sound kind o' shabby until you see a photo.
I was awed!
It seemed impossible. The irregularly curving towers, the twisting, sinewy concrete. It looked like something someone had drawn. It was too fantastic to be real. And he decorated the walls too? They're covered with pieces of mirror and tile and imprints of the tools he used?
I wanted to go. I had to see it. I was seven and at the time we lived half a state away but there was a photo of this genius working near one of the tops of the towers with little more than a leather belt as a safety harness. I wanted to see what a guy with that level of fearlessness and that creative power could dream up.
Fast forward a couple decades. I live within driving distance now but the towers are being refurbished. There's a chain link fence around the property and tours or entry inside is impossible.
I admire from the outside thrilled even to see at a distance an item that was such a wonderful part my boyhood.
Well the refurbishment is done and you can enjoy the full wonder of this beautiful, little oddity. Take a tour, read up on the history, linger. Sit and soak in the uniqueness of a landmark that gives an unusual, quirky charm to a poor neighborhood.
And may I gently offer an appeal to the white, middle class parents with young kids that hear "Watts" and immediately imagine gunfire and riots. You may want to step out a little bit. To stretch a little beyond what you know. I suspect there is some remarkable beauty and maybe more than just a little insight just beyond your comfort zone.
My 200th review. -
Review from Michael W.
La Verne, CA
1/30/2011 16 photos
WOW.
This place.... is in the middle of...well a really crappy place.
Dont come here at night.
Its right on the way to LAX so I stopped there (because I have to stop for those signs)
They have a center/gift shop next to the towers themselves.
The towers are amazing. To think one man that long ago just built those,....its amazing.Listed in: 10 percent, Best of L.A., Cultural Places, Westside!, Photo Op
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Review from jeanne w.
Los Angeles, CA
9/27/2011 1 photo
visiting the towers for the first time since i reached adult height, i was struck by how small they appeared. this could be the ratio of my childhood diminutive stature, versus my height now, or it's possible that i still mix towers up with gaudi's sagrada familia in barcelona...
nice quiet, unpopulated at the house i visited. but the workers were repainting the fence, so there was no visitor access. as the fence is as close as five feet next to the towers, i did not feel i missed out particularly.
also, i understand the fee to enter is now $7, which seems a tad steep.
took some artsiful photos & self portraits.
peaceful visit overall. -
Review from Anita C.
Hacienda Heights, CA
3/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've always wanted to visit Watts Towers ever since I learned about Simon Rodia in my California History course back in college and I'm glad I finally got the chance to go!
Although it is a sketchy area, I think everyone should really make a trip out here especially if you're not scared of driving into Watts/Compton area -- honestly, its really not THAT bad..just don't be stupid and walk around trying to explore the neighborhood unless you want to run into trouble.
Driving up to the towers it looks really lame especially for people who have never learned about Simon Rodia himself. If you think about the fact that this now historical landmark was all built by hand, with only simple tools, by one man, standing at 4 ft 11 inches tall over the course of 33 years is really quite fascinating.
All the staff there were extremely sweet, friendly, and welcoming. They offer tours every 30 minutes and it cost $7 for adults, $3 for children, and free for toddlers I believe. The tour itself only lasts about 15-20 minutes but the tour guide presented a lot of useful information which really helped explain the history and "art of love" behind Watts Towers. After the tour they also show a 12 minute documentary on Simon Rodia which showed actual footage of S.R working on Watts Towers which was really neat. -
Review from scott s.
2/23/2011
yes it is in a ghetto area.....but it is right off the 105
I recommend getting directions before going because I tried to follow the signs off the freeway. Not so good ended up in some shady area with shitloads of cops.
But it is amazing go see it now! -
Review from Jennifer B.
Los Angeles, CA
4/28/2011
Well as they say, one man's trash is another man's ...hm, what exactly ARE the Watts Towers?
I guess "vernacular architecture" is the best art term, which is kinda sad considering it's mainly trash. Sustainable architecture? Or maybe just the word "cool," because the Watts Towers are pretty cool. Really cool, even.
As an art-freak and a lover of roadside attractions, I really dug this place. I don't feel like it's a go-out-of-your-way place to visit, but if you live or are in LA and have some time to kill, you should definitely make the trip. -
Review from Davis T.
Irvine, CA
9/23/2011
The Watts Towers are pretty cool if you're in South Central and you're looking for something interesting. I came to Watts for UCLA's Volunteer Day and since I probably was never gonna be back in Watts, decided to go there to check it out. It's not as tall as I thought it was be but it's still pretty cool. There's some history panels if you don't know the history of Watts.
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Review from sharon e.
3/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
My first thought as we drove up: "That's it? they're so short!"
They really look much taller in the pictures.
Finally after my 30+ years of living in Los Angeles - I made it to the Watts Towers and I'm so glad I did.
The guided tour and movie about Simon Rodia were fascinating to say the least. But nothing compares to just standing there within the labyrinthine setting - and gazing up and around at this marvelous creation. Having a docent pointing out the details that might otherwise go overlooked really brought the tour to life.
I'm still blown away by Simon Rodia's story and how he built this work of art - working on it every day for over 30 years... and then just walking away? unbelievable.
My lingering thoughts as I'm writing this: " simply amazing... the story behind the towers truly make them larger than life - and the pictures don't even do justice to them."
just go.
hopefully you'll get a guided tour - and don't miss the short film either. -
Review from Katherine M.
Los Angeles, CA
2/6/2011
A stunning piece of art and Los Angeles history. This is probably one of the most under-rated attractions in L.A., quite possibly because the neighborhood turns off a lot of people. That being said, during the day it is completely fine.
Inexpensive to get in for the guided tour and they even give student discounts if you ask. Definitely worth the visit of an amazing place and amazing story of one man. The center could use the funds as the Watts Towers has come close to closing. -
Review from slick b.
Los Angeles, CA
7/17/2010
Thank the Gods for Simon Rodia.
And stop getting hung up on "the hood" "gangs" That shit is everywhere.
get over your white guilt, buppie bullshit, and outer limits fear.
Drive. Take the Metro. Ride a Camel.
Just GO. -
Review from Olivia H.
Los Angeles, CA
5/28/2011 1 photo
You're not really a legit angeleno unless you've been here. Nice little weekend field trip. Take the extra 15 minutes and watch the super 70s documentary on the towers afterwards in the visitors center. Also bring your camera, as the towers are very photogenic. For some extra flavor, go get some BBQ in watts, or take surface streets home, seeing parts of the city you rarely think of and never visit. Its these sorts of places that make L.A. great.
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Review from Kate M.
8/7/2011
I've been in LA 15 years and always meant to go here. Finally I did and it was totally cool. Fascinating story behind the towers. The tour is a must (you can't go inside if you don't do the tour) and the people that work there are fantastic. A great way to spend an afternoon.
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Review from Lynette T.
Hidden Hills, CA
3/28/2010 5 photos
The hubby got himself one of those GPS gadgets & wanted to try it out.
I was assigned to think of a place we've never been locally.
Easy decision.
The Watts Towers is one of those places that I'm sure many of us LA natives know about and say "Maybe, someday I'll go see them".
So, we get there (the GPS thing worked great!) and for some reason, I felt disappointed. I was expecting the area to be bigger. Dumb me.
But, the closer you get, the more bigger and beautiful everything is.
You have to crane your neck all the way back and marvel at how tall the structures are. http://www.yelp.com/bi... Simon Rodia climbed all the way up there by himself? Dang impressive! http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I should have done my homework before leaving the house.
We were too early for the tour. Aw, well. You're still able to see a lot through the fencing.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
This really made me smile. An archway decorated with cans of my favorite soda, Canada Dry Ginger Ale.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
One thing I'd suggest is to take your time and really look at everything.
By the time we made the full circle around the fences, we both agreed that Mr. Rodia's contribution to the LA landscape should be appreciated & treasured. The towers are much more than one man's whimsical art. He's left us a message. What's the message?
Perhaps:
Damn convention!
Do what makes you happy.
Add some beauty to the world.
Why be dull?
Whatever the message, I'm glad he left us this gift from his heart.Listed in: Places to go, things to…
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Review from Jessica C.
St Louis, MO
11/28/2010 2 photos
I was lucky enough to visit on a day when tours were being given. Absolutely fascinating!
If you're in LA and looking for something interesting but not too touristy, come see the Watts Towers. Granted, there will be other tourists there, but this is about as far away from an amusement park or the Hollywood Walk of Fame as you can get. There aren't any super heroes begging for tips here.
The highlight of the tour was the five minutes at the end when we were allowed to roam free amongst the Towers. This was something I won't soon forget. -
Review from marlon e.
Chino, CA
4/1/2010
Driving by the 105 freeway my friend pointed Watts tower 2 miles ahead. So asked should i pull over so we can take pictures of the place. From the freeway its not the most ideal place to be during sunset but whatever we're already here might as well take out time and snap some pictures of the place.
I was expecting more. I was like Watt the f*ck? That's it? But i must say its beautiful!!!
I wish it was still open so we could have gotten inside... -
Review from Monica D.
9/26/2010
Calling it an early night from downtown LA with my beloved Craiggers, we happened upon the 105 which brought us on a whim to the Watts Towers. Ever since my undergrad days I'd admired various photography projects based on the Towers, and apparently my partner in crime shared my random burning desire to see them. Knowing full well that it was near midnight and amidst heavily fortified ghetto territory, we braved the hype and came upon a cute security guard who told us of the weekend's Watts Drum Festival. I wish I'd known about this earlier because then I gladly would've made a day trip out of it.
I stepped out of the car and immediately felt at home. The Towers themselves aren't overly larger than life, but when you read the story of Simon Rodia and the consequent fight to preserve the Towers, you realize you're standing in the midst of special, artistic history. Such grandiose handicraft nestled among a neighborhood whose structures and sidewalks told countless stories of labor, violence, creativity and love, I honestly did feel very much like I wanted to be a part of this place. Roadside taco stands, run-down motels, and barred windows blended in with muralized home fronts, proudly displayed flags waving in the soft wind, and a great source of pride emanating from the Towers themselves.
Reminiscent of Gaudi and his works encapsulating Barcelona, the Towers themselves are as awe-inspiring as they are historically significant. One side of the park has a series of plaques explaining their origin and where they stand today as an official historical landmark. Just standing beneath them took my breath away. I couldn't have asked for a better night, at a better place, with a better companion. We loved it. My pictures couldn't do any of it justice.
Maybe the fearless attitude was not one to bring here in the middle of the night (the kind security guard took our bravado down *just* a notch by mentioning as aside that 'he and his guys were all around, so we could check it out and feel safe'), and maybe the community has a ways to go in terms of making the 'ghetto' description waver away. But the place has definitely got soul and for sure a story to tell. Get over the hype yourselves and spend some time at the Towers... next time I'll be sure to get there in time for the tour. RIP Simon Rodia. -
Review from Matthew J.
Los Angeles, CA
7/21/2008 ROTD 8/24/2008
Italian immigrant Simon Rodia built 99 feet tall towers using nothing but his hands, basic tools, scrap metal, spare porcelain, and tile... with no design plans or blueprints.
...I had to call IKEA customer support when I couldn't figure why I had assembled my nightstand upside-down. ("Um *pause*, did you follow the pictures sir? They're pretty self-explanatory. We test all our instructional diagrams on Scandinavian children to ensure ease of understanding.")
He did this in his spare time when he wasn't working a full schedule at the local pottery factory.
...My spare time productivity amounts to contributing to Molson-Coors' bottom line and deleting my roommates' saved "Tori & Dean: Inn Love" episodes off the DVR. F*cking Oxygen network and living with chicks...
He was known to walk up and down the Pacific Electric railroad tracks that parallel Wilmington Ave, sometimes going as far as 20 miles to find the scrap steel girders he needed.
...I was pissed that I had to drive all the way to the Pavilions on Wilshire when I walked into Whole Foods on San Vicente and learned all that $20 would get me was a few slices of hormone-free turkey and a crossword puzzle.
He integrated every color of porcelain or glass he could find.
...I painted my room one color this weekend and spilled a bucket on my foot. *sad face*
He did this all over the course of 33 years.
...I'm still stuck on the Mezzanine floor of the Puzz-3D Empire State Building Aunty Lucy gave me for Christmas in the 6th grade.
In short, go to Watts Towers if you want to feel like you've done nothing with your life.
I know, that's not exactly a rousing endorsement. And when you first pull up, you won't exactly be moved. "That's... it? THOSE are the Watts Towers?"
It's no Eiffel Tower to be sure. But learning a little bit of history provides some more color. Like the fact that Watts was much the same in Rodia's time as we know it today: battered, defeated, sullen. Rodia, thinking Watts deserved better, wanted to give his community something they could be proud of. And so for 33 years, he gave his life to a project that came about as a mere whim. Given a little context, Watts Towers might as well be 10 times as tall.
The irony of the Towers is almost literary in its scope. Here you have this neighborhood that's been marginalized by gangland shootings, scenes of yellow police on the 11 o'clock news... composed of homes which all have bars reinforcing their windows and doors. A place known for its utter despair.
Yet amidst all this hopelessness, in the very heart of in fact, stands a cluster of towers made by a single man and his bare hands that represents the very essence of hope itself.
Watts Towers are by no means pretty. But they're undeniably beautiful. -
Review from Robin Z.
8/12/2009 6 photos
With the neighboring communities disintegrating faster with each passing year, we still found relatively secure parking and toured these bizarre, mind-boggling edifices of a determined, if misguided man of dreams. I say "misguided" only in that had he built these structures in another location or used his energies on something not quite so useless, he may have really been onto something. Instead, we see his version of a concrete, steel and glass sand castle that once built was left to the vagaries of time and ruined neighborhood tides. Simon Rodia built them, turned his back and walked away, never to return.
So the locals were left in custody of the towers to do with as they saw fit. And fortunately, some saw hope in their standing, a symbol of one man's odd imagination while other's saw a tourist site where it now holds status as a monument. Would Rodia give a shit? Probably not. He'd probably see what's become of the 'hood, hum a few bars from Hendrix's "Castles Made of Sand" and wave a "Ciao!"
Nevertheless, it's something to see at least once (I've been here 4 times). Bring a camera and an open mind but I highly recommend you egress the area before dark.
P.S., with my mask, wig and attitude, no bad guys dared molest usListed in: Kulture Klash
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Review from ruth l.
Los Angeles, CA
1/28/2008
Wow, only 15 reviews for Watts Towers?! Lame! I felt ashamed as I've lived in LA for a year and a half and hadn't visited yet!
Anyway, remedied that last week. Drove down on a Tuesday morning with my visiting bestest friend. Unfortunately, no tours offered on Tuesday, so we wandered the museum, watched a documentary about Rodia and chatted with a woman (the curator?) before checking out the towers themselves.
Learning about Simon Rodia was super-fun (he only bathed once a month... in ALCOHOL!), and the towers were stunning. So, go already. -
Review from Quinlan F.
Los Angeles, CA
12/21/2008
The Watts Towers is a motivational piece of Art that sits in the heart of Los Angeles.
I spent my childhood in this part of Los Angeles and these Towers represents the area and the people of Los Angeles very well.
Simon Rodia, the man who built the towers with junk and trash and scrap medal he found on the train tracks and in the scrap yards created something that's bigger than the Towers themselves.
Simon Rodia created victory, hope, and treasure when he dedicated his life to completing this project.
With the naked eye the common village idiot would just see trash stacked up in the sky, but if you look harder with your heart you will see that one man turned what others looked at as trash into something else, something greater than what everyone envisioned it to be. Something Beautiful.
It's the story of Watts.Listed in: To Live and Die in L.A.
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Review from Jenny G.
Fullerton, CA
1/24/2010 5 photos
I had been wanting to get my bad white self over to the Watts Towers for quite some time. The trouble was, it didn't seem like a good plan for a lone, very white blond girl to go rolling around the streets of the hood in her bad ass Toyota Corolla, and no one else thought the idea seemed very appealing. Not that I blame them... but the draw of urban, inner city grit and a giant mosaic covered sculpture were just too much for me to bear. I had to go.
Driving through the questionable (ok, terrible) neighborhood, suddenly the large, metal-looking THING comes into view. It resembles some sort of barbed wire power station from a distance. Luckily, the magic begins once you get inside.
If you have any sort of interest in found object art, ceramic, glass, or even just in the little Italian man who decided to throw all of it together, you will love this place. Take a good, close look at some of these beautiful fragments of glass bottles, broken china, and shells and you will begin to realize the true beauty of the towers.
While it is rumored that Simon Rodia's then-neighbors gave him a hard time about the structure, today it is a shining beacon of hope in the midst of a steadily declining neighborhood. As if to say," Look what we can do with some hard work, creativity, and passion". While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, it is undeniably beautiful. Simon Rodia wanted to build something "important". Now go let it inspire you.Listed in: Time Warp
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Review from Ayanna H.
Carson, CA
12/7/2010
First off, if you're that damn scared then stay on your side of town. I grew up in Watts and trust me when I say the folks in that area have more important things to worry about than a friggin tourist coming to the area with preconceived notions of being robbed or shot.
I hadn't been to the Towers in years, but could always see it from the freeway. On my last visit I missed the tour but was glad to see all the improvements they made to the area including the cultural center and presentation area behind it. I took a friend from the Valley who expressed interest about going since I knew the area. We had a great time just walking around and reading up on Mr. Rodia.
Not to many places like this in Watts and I applaud those who are committed to the restoration of the Towers and giving the kids in the area future aspirations. -
Review from scott d.
Arlington, VA
3/4/2010
Simon Rodia's towers are quite possibly the best work of art in America. It blows my mind that these things are a culmination of thirty three years of twisting all manner of miscellaneous junk into something strangely beautiful, and that he just up and moved upon their completion. This cat Rodia was a mad genius, and his towers are a quintessential representation of the fantastic possibilities of life in this country; to take shit and make something beautiful of it.
It's lamentable that many people will never see these things because they're located in the scary ghetto surrounded by dangerous minorities. Granted, there's still plenty of shit that jumps off around there. I would also encourage visitors to mind what colors they wear, as there are both Crip and Blood sets in very close proximity. Grape Street is only a few blocks away and Nickerson Gardens are a little further in the opposite direction, so aimless wandering is not recommended. However, it's not unsafe to visit the towers during the day, so be cool and respectful and your chances of being in an unpleasant situation are minimal.
These towers have just about seen it all as Watts has changed drastically from Rodia's days. Though the local economy has never recovered from riots in '65 and '92, these things have stood strong, symbolic of the resilient nature of the hood and its people. Since the site has been designated a National Historic Place, it is assured that art lovers and freaks will be able to marvel at their splendor in perpetuity.Listed in: greatest hits
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Review from CJ J.
7/21/2008 3 photos
Caravaned (is that the spelling?) to Watts Towers after Hawkins House of Heartattacks. :)
Got lost for a second but we found it after making a hard right turn. It's in the middle of a neighborhood. What the F? I had no idea!! I had always heard about the Watts Towers but knew nothing about it and had never seen it.
We got to the towers and my first reaction was "Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat's it??? Seriously?" Probably not the best reaction but I didn't know what to expect.
I hadn't used the restroom at H3 so I REALLLLLLY needed to go. That's how I found and ended up inside the Watts Towers Art Center.
The staff is very friendly. There is a Watts Tower tour that you can go on. They showed us a video about the history of the Towers. There I learned to appreciate the Towers for what they are. Wow. One man. 30 years. Pieces he found everywhere. He only used a few tools and did everything by hand. Wanted to build something for people to come to his community and leave a mark on the world. Very respectable. Inspiring.
:DListed in: Yelp Made Me Do It!, Broke & Bored
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Review from Jensine M.
Los Angeles, CA
7/1/2010 3 photos
Okay, I'll have to admit, I almost peed in my pants and then some as I drove past Compton Street and realized I was in the ghetto. I'm not an LA native so when my girlfriend told me she wanted to visit Watts Towers, I immediately agreed. Then somehow two Asian girls ended up in the hood. It was a good thing we decided to go during the day.
However, don't let the surrounding fool you. Yes, I pulled up worried I was going to get robbed in the middle of the day only to realize that it was completely safe to see the towers as long as there is sunlight.
It's unfortunate that the Watts Towers is in the ghetto because it's absolutely a beautiful site. The history behind the towers is so rich and deep and it's a shame that people no longer can appreciate it hidden in it's rundown surroundings. Every piece of the towers including Simon Rodia's home is amazing and put together so artistically.
If you're willing to go on an adventure, the Watts Towers and Art Center is truly worth seeing. -
Review from Robert H.
Los Angeles, CA
7/10/2007 21 photos
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that certainly applies to the Watts Towers. If you have ever visited Barcelona and visited Gaudi's public sculptures and liked them, then you'll probably like the Watts Towers.
I've been wanting to visit the towers for many years, but wasn't quite sure where it was. A few months ago, while I was stuck in traffic on the 105, I saw the exit sign for it and made a mental note. Last month, my bf and I gave it a visit on a Saturday. I made sure to call ahead that they were open and giving tours.
The place is pretty easy to locate. Its Watts, but the neighborhood isn't scary. I wouldn't be afraid of driving down this neighborhood during the evening. The 8 mile district of Detroit is more intimidating. I read about a year ago that they had demolished the parking lot to make room for the new arts center, but parking was plenty in this residential neighborhood. The area is also surprisingly clean of graffiti. There's a security guard that patrols the premises during the hours of operation.
We started our tour at the current site of the arts center. I purchased the tickets which were around $8 for an adult. We then spent some time inside the center perusing the displayed artwork. My bf and I liked the shovels were decorated with tile, paint and bling. There was also a tiled mosaic that we both agreed looked really nice. Afterward we watched the 15 minute video filmed when Mr. Rodia was almost done constructing the towers. The video quality is okay, given how old it is, but we both felt it should have been updated since portions of the tape had a strong glare to it. Its remarkable that a petite man like Rodia was able to construct the towers starting in his 40's.
Afterward, we began our tour. As we waited for our tour to start, I noticed a rich blond woman and her children walk out of the complex and they looked pleased. The thought made me happy knowing that visitors weren't limited to a particular socioeconomic demographic. I can't recall the name of our guide, but he was very nice and pleasant. The tour itself lasts for about 10 or 15 minutes, but you can ask as many questions as you want and the guide will answer your questions. The tours are 30 minutes each though, so its best to take as many pics as you can once the guide is done speaking.
I didn't realize that the Watts Towers was built for the entire neighborhood to enjoy. There was even a baptismal font and reception area for the neighborhood to gather in. Rodia really wanted this to be the focal point for the neighborhood, which is reflected in the name he christened it with, "Nuestra Puebla". You also get a bit of a time capsule effect since the 7up and soda bottles that Rodia used to decorate the structures were clearly manufactured back in 1930's and 40's.
If I had superglue and bits and pieces of ceramic and seashells, I probably wouldn't be able to resist trying to patch up some of the pieces that have crumbled or fallen off in time. I think the city or state should pay some art restorers to replace the missing pieces. Preservationist purists might decry such a move, but Rodia's work certainly wasn't meant to be pure or uniform. If anything, I think he would have been content knowing that the place would be updated and restored to help it fend off the ravages of time.
The potted plants also looked a bit out of place. They should have used pottery with the broken tile work designs as well as succulents and other odd looking plants with geometric shapes to match the look and color of the Towers.
Despite these minor complaints, my bf and I really enjoyed the tour. We were a bit saddened to find that because of budget cuts, the place is only open Fridays to Sundays. There's a different guide for each day they are open. Best time to visit is probably during mid morning when they open, or later in the afternoon. The noon sun can be harsh in this area, especially during the summer, and you want the sun at a certain angle to better frame the structures to appreciate all the geometric shapes.
I know this place isn't for everyone, but I firmly believe it belongs in the places to see list when visiting LA. Even in such a demonized area like Watts, true beauty and art can exist.Listed in: Extraordinary Places to Visit…
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Review from Jolene M.
Los Angeles, CA
12/13/2009
"From trash to treasure" pretty much sums up the Watts towers. The towers were built by an Italian construction worker Sabato "Sam" Rodia over a period of 33 years. They were created with found objects such as glass bottles, sea shells and tile, and were built entirely by Rodia's hand. He even bent the towers' framework from scrap rebar and climbed the towers to install them.
It is sad that Rodia abandoned his property, supposedly due to abuse from his neighbors. The state then tried to demolish the towers, claiming that they weren't structurally sound. However, when they did tests on the towers with a crane, they found that the towers were so strong, they broke the crane! Thankfully, the towers were later purchased and turned into a historic landmark.
Do pay the small entry fee for a tour of the towers. Our tour guide was the most knowledgeable and friendly guy who obviously cared deeply about the towers. I will never forget the Watts towers--it inspires creativity and artistry, and it reminds us to walk to the beat of our own drums.Listed in: Bored in L.A.?
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Review from Javier J.
7/5/2009
If there was ever a reason to go to South Central, it's for the burgers and BBQ. Nothing like the taste of a freshly cooked piece of meat done good on a cut drum barrel.
If there's a second reason to go, it's to see this testament of the human spirit and will to build something up in defiance of everyone else.
It's really a sight to see and it's there for all to gaze. Yet it's seldom ever looked at in this town where we forget all about what's south of Downtown..
I suppose it takes a bold Italian to create something like this. Sabato "Simon" Rodia decided, like any short person would, to compensate. Some people compensate by getting huge trucks, getting platforms and putting their hair up. This man decided to build a tall tower.
This slightly smaller than 5 foot tall man gathered his tools by paying the local kids pennies to gather scrap metal and he went to work with concrete and attaching pieces on the rail road. Using a window washer belt he started building and climbed up to make the structure reach 99 feet. Pretty tall for a single handed man made tower like this.
As a true sign of how strange this place is, Rodia sold the property to a friend for a buck. Which for 1950's money got him a trolly ride into town, a steak dinner, a shoe shine and a good spin with a taxi dancer. Yes, truly those were the days.
At one point the city was going to tear down this amazingly interesting complex. So perhaps you shouldn't over look some amazing art and stop by to see this sight. -
Review from Abby A.
Duarte, CA
2/6/2007
If you want to be awed and impressed by one's man perseverance, than you truly should take the time to visit Watts Towers. Simon Rodia, using only simple tile-setter's tools and a window washer's belt and buckle, spent 33 years constructing the Watts Towers.
Considering that the Watts Towers consists of nine major sculptural forms made of steel and covered with mortar embedded with pieces of ceramic tile, pottery shards, sea shells, and broken glass, you can't help but be amazed.
By visiting the Watts Tower and taking a tour, not only do you get to see these beautiful structures in person, you'll also get to hear some interesting personal stories about Simon Rodia, himself. For example, one tidbit I learned is that Simon would actually pay the children in the neighborhood for any broken china plate that they would bring to him. I'm sure that made for many an unhappy mother.
Check out the pics of when I went there in 2005 below:
http://www.flickr.com/...Listed in: Tour LA and Beyond!
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Review from Felicia C.
Manhattan, NY
7/20/2008
I'm have a problem and I'm just gonna throw it out to the Yelp world: I have GPSD. I'm GPS dependent. I will not leave a parking lot without it being on.
Ironically, my GPS Is also retarded - I wanted it to take me to the Beverly Center using side streets and it takes me into the heart of Watts. WTF. During my GPS tour of Watts, I briefly saw these huge spires in the distance, but didn't give them a second thought.
The day after the above GPS fiasco, a group of yelpers decided to go to the Watts Towers after gorging ourselves on burgers. Guess where we ended up? Right to those spires that my GPS had shown me the day before, and I was able to get to know those towers on a deeper level than just "What the hell is that??"
These towers that loom over you only have a foundation of 4 feet deep and are created of just pieces of scrap metal, coat hangers, glass and tile, and cement. But somehow, they've survived almost 90 years against the elements and that, by itself, is damn impressive. We were able to catch one of the docent tours of the towers (which I highly recommend - our tour guide was friendly, informative, and well educated about the Watts Towers), but as they are currently enclosed for restoration purposes, we couldn't really get a good look at the inside of the towers. (I'm actually contemplating coming back when they're open to the public...just to see it in person.)
If you have time, I'd also suggest going into the art center right next door - they have a 20 minute video about the history of the towers (it's pretty interesting albeit a bit dated), as well as artist and community exhibitions.
The towers may not be everyone's cup of tea but I'd suggest checking it out at least once. I mean, it's a historical landmark of Los Angeles, the largest piece of artwork made by one man, and even though my first impression may not have been the best, I personally really enjoyed the experience. -
Review from Norm K.
9/4/2010 3 photos
I visited the Watts Towers of Simon Rodia last fall, and it was quite an experience. I have seen these towers on several TV programs and I knew one time in Los Angeles, I'd have to stop and see them. It was so wroth the trip.
Not far off the 105 Freeway, the Towers are not in the best neighborhood, but I have read that for the area gangs, it's considered neutral territory. At least that's what I read.
Unfortunately, I couldn't time this trip for when the Arts Center was open, too, or when they give tours and you can go inside the gates. It is stunning nonetheless. To view this one man's passion to retrieve scraps of life - glass, tile, plates, et. al., and place them in towers that were ever growing was exciting. To see the engineering he did and the fact that they've pretty well survived Southern California earthquakes over the years is a testament to his building skill.
This is so worth a stop when you're in Los Angeles. -
Review from Michael T.
San Francisco, CA
2/27/2007
Like so many things in life, I discovered the Watts Towers by sheer chance--when I worked at the library back in college and someone returned a lavishly illustrated coffee table book on them and it was a slow enough day that I was able to follow my curiosity for a good hour or so. Suffice to say that what I learned in that book burned the Watts Towers into my mind forever, and it was truly humbling to finally see them in person this past weekend. The other reviews here will have already given you the general gist, so I'll try to avoid redundancy and only add useful comments.
First of all, a couple corrections to Brad's comments: the two tallest towers are well over 50 feet high, measuring 99.5 feet and 97 feet respectively. Nitpicky, perhaps, but it adds dramatically to one's appreciation of Rodia's determination and daring to realize just how high up he was when building these...a little (5'4") guy nearly 100 feet up and working without any scaffolding is bound to impress. It's true that Rodia stood upon his towers as he built them, with only a homemade window washer's belt to secure himself. But nevermind the daredevil stuff--it's the sheer folk-art poetry and majesty of his creation that will get you, the intricacy and homespun loveliness, the sheer amount of work and devotion it took to create this sculpture garden. Breathtaking.
On another note, I have to insist on toning down the fear-mongering about this neighborhood. I don't doubt that Watts can be dangerous and it may be true that Crips & Bloods are in the vicinity, but from what I could see this particular area is simply a run-down working class neighborhood and I never felt in any danger there. That being said, I wouldn't be excited to go exploring further, but with a little research and online mapping, it's not at all hard to get in and get out.
As for access--it's true that one needs to pay ($7) for a guided tour in order to see Rodia's works, but the tour guides seem to be delightful people who genuinely care about the Towers and are very friendly and knowledgeable. The two exhibits I saw in the Arts Center were a nice added bonus, as was the 12 minute video made back in the 50s when Rodia was nearly done with his creation. It must be admitted, though, that tours are only available at certain times of the week--every half-hour, roughly from mid-morning to mid-afternoon Friday through Sunday--so plan accordingly or you'll end up peeking through the fence to see what you can. With a little preparation, though, it's a trip that will more than repay your time--my sister and I were simply mesmerized and awed as we strolled around taking it all in. Who'd'a thunk one might make a pilgrimage to LA? -
Review from Jackie C.
San Diego, CA
9/10/2009
When we were driving up to Watts Towers and I saw these big metal and concrete Christmas tree-type things for the first time my initial impression was: "Um, that's cool...I guess."
However, after examining them more closely and taking the fascinating tour I had a much better appreciation of how unique Watts Towers truly are. They have so much history and it's pretty incredible that one man made them all by himself with no help whatsoever.
In fact, Watts Towners actually ended up being one of my favorite things I saw in LA. I think the pictures don't really do them justice, you just have to see them for yourself and you MUST go on the tour!Listed in: Nerdy Places I Enjoy
