In 1921, Simon Rodia, an Italian immigrant began building towers in his Los Angeles yard; 33 years later, his handmade creation included a tower more than 99 feet high

Some works of art become closely connected with the communities around them, carrying stories of creativity, resilience and identity across generations. Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park (SHP) in Los Angeles is one such place. As State Parks recognizes Black History Month in February, the historic site offers an opportunity to highlight the artistic and cultural legacy connected with the Watts neighborhood.

“You can feel the power … there’s a positiveness,” cited Watts Towers Arts Center Campus Director Rosie Lee Hooks. “It’s a phenomenal example of what art could do in an economically challenged community.”

California’s smallest state park

Situated on a 0.11-acre triangular property in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, the site is California’s smallest state park. It features 17 interconnected structures made from steel and concrete and decorated with colorful materials.

The historic park shares its campus with the City of Los Angeles Watts Towers Arts Center, which manages and preserves the site. The towers are regarded as a remarkable example of 20th-century folk-art sculpture and have become linked with the identity, resilience and artistic creativity of the neighborhood’s Black and Latino communities.

Simon Rodia spent over three decades building the towers

The extraordinary structures began with the vision of Italian immigrant Sabato (“Simon”) Rodia, who dreamed of “doing something big.” Rodia worked as a railroad laborer and was a self-taught tile setter.

Beginning in 1921, he spent over 33 years constructing the towers on his small property, continuing the project until 1954.

Rodia fashioned steel girders and columns using railroad tracks. He connected them with wire mesh before covering the structures with a layer of mortar. Much of the work was completed alone during nights and weekends.

Despite the scale of the project, Rodia did not use welding or scaffolding. His tools included chisels, hammers, buckets and a window washer’s belt and buckle. He continued using these methods even as the tallest tower reached over 99 feet.

A creation called ‘Nuestro Pueblo’

Rogelio Acevedo, education coordinator of the Watts Towers Arts Center Campus, explained that Rodia called his creation “Nuestro Pueblo” (our town). The triangular construction symbolizes a masted ship.

The towers has an extensive collection of decorative materials that Rodia gathered from nature and consumer culture. Tiles, shards and rocks appear throughout the structures alongside objects ranging from pebbles and seashells to soda bottles and bowling balls.

The abundance of small details means visitors can continue noticing different elements throughout the site. As Arts Center Director Hooks pointed out, there are “always new discoveries” during the Center-guided tours through the maze of decorated steel and concrete rebars.

Watts Towers became a community symbol

By the mid-1950s, Watts Towers had developed into a symbol of identification for an economically and socially disadvantaged community.

Racial and socioeconomic conflicts in the Watts neighborhood erupted in 1965. During this period, Rodia’s towers also became associated with the creativity of a growing number of African American artists. They included Jazz musician Charles Mingus and sculptor Noah Purifoy, who was the cofounder and first director of the Watts Towers Arts Center.

The towers narrowly escaped demolition

Despite spending decades constructing the site, Rodia never received a permit for the project.

That became particularly significant in 1959, when building authorities with the City of Los Angeles declared the structures unsafe. The towers narrowly avoided demolition after a committee composed of artists and activists developed a stress test that demonstrated their safety.

The Watts Towers Arts Center, founded in 1961, subsequently grew out of this committee.

Today, the campus hosts exhibitions while providing museum and art education opportunities for local youths and artists from around the world. Through its Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center, it also provides courses and opportunities for emerging artists and musicians.

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Conservation and historic recognition

The Watts Towers Arts Center is now working in partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which administers continuing conservation efforts at the site.

Rodia’s creation has received several historic designations. It is a National Historic Landmark, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is recognized as both a California State Historic Monument and a Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Monument.

In 1978, Watts Towers became a California state historic park operated by the City of Los Angeles.


Source: California State Parks

FAQs:

1. What are Watts Towers?

Watts Towers is a collection of 17 interconnected steel and concrete structures. The site is located in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.

2. Who created Watts Towers?

The towers were created by Italian immigrant Sabato “Simon” Rodia. He was a railroad laborer and self-taught tile setter.