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Overview
Watts Towers — formally known as Nuestro Pueblo ('Our Town') — is one of the most extraordinary works of outsider art in the United States. Italian immigrant laborer Sabato 'Simon' Rodia constructed the complex of 17 interconnected structures between 1921 and 1954 on a small residential lot in the Watts neighborhood of South Los Angeles, working entirely alone without a scaffold, blueprint, or power tools.
The towers reach heights of up to approximately 99 feet and are built from steel pipe and rod wrapped in wire mesh, then coated in mortar and encrusted with a mosaic of found materials: broken pottery, seashells, glass, ceramic tiles, and objects Rodia collected from his daily life. The effect is both intimate and monumental — a handmade cathedral of debris.
Rodia deeded the property to a neighbor in 1954 and left Los Angeles, never returning. Local preservationists and the City of Los Angeles fought to save the towers from demolition in the late 1950s, and the site has since been designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, a California State Landmark, and a National Historic Landmark. Today the towers are managed as a public art site and cultural center.
Before You Go
Admission and Hours
Admission fees and opening hours are set by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, which manages the site. Verify current hours and admission on the official Los Angeles city cultural affairs website or contact the Watts Towers Arts Center directly before visiting, as hours have historically been limited and subject to change.
What to Expect On-Site
The towers are enclosed within a fenced lot. Visitors typically view the structures from immediately outside the fence or, during staffed open periods, access the site with a guide. The adjacent Watts Towers Arts Center hosts rotating exhibitions, community events, and educational programming — check their schedule ahead of time if you'd like to pair a gallery visit with the towers.
Accessibility
The surrounding neighborhood is flat. The viewing area and immediate exterior are accessible on foot. Confirm interior site accessibility with the Arts Center, as the lot's interior terrain is uneven in places.
Visas
Watts Towers is located in the United States. For entry requirements to the US, check TravelerPulse's Visas section and the official US Customs and Border Protection or Department of State websites for guidance relevant to your nationality.
Getting There
By Car
Watts Towers is located at 1765 E 107th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90002. Street parking is available in the surrounding residential area. The site is roughly 15–20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles depending on your starting point; travel time varies considerably with LA traffic.
By Public Transit
Los Angeles Metro serves the area. The Metro A Line (Blue) has a Watts/103rd Street Station that puts visitors within a short walk or ride of the towers. Verify current Metro schedules, fares, and the most convenient stop via the official LA Metro website or app before your trip. Bus routes also serve the surrounding streets — confirm current service with LA Metro.
By Rideshare
Uber and Lyft operate throughout Los Angeles and are a practical option for direct door-to-door travel to the site.
Things to See & Do
Viewing the Towers
The primary experience is simply spending time with Rodia's structures — walking the perimeter, observing the changing light on the mosaic surfaces, and examining the extraordinary detail of the embedded objects at close range. Morning light and overcast days bring out the color and texture of the tilework particularly well.
Watts Towers Arts Center
The adjacent Arts Center hosts visual art exhibitions, community cultural events, and the annual Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival, a long-running summer event that draws visitors from across the region. Check the Arts Center's schedule for events during your visit.
Watts Community Exploration
Watts has a layered history in Los Angeles — the 1965 Watts Rebellion, the murals that emerged from it, and the neighborhood's ongoing cultural life are all threads worth exploring respectfully. Several community murals and cultural institutions are within a short drive.
- Photograph the towers from multiple angles at different times of day
- Attend a guided tour if available (verify locally)
- Visit the Arts Center gallery before or after viewing the exterior
Food & Drink
There are no cafes or restaurants on the Watts Towers site itself. The immediately surrounding blocks are a residential neighborhood with limited commercial dining. Visitors are generally advised to eat before arriving or to travel to nearby commercial corridors for food.
The Florence–Firestone and Central Avenue areas of South Los Angeles have established Mexican and Central American food traditions — taquerias, pupuserías, and family-run spots are common in the broader area. Verify specific options via Google Maps or Yelp before your visit, as neighborhood dining options shift.
Bringing water and snacks is practical, particularly if visiting in summer when temperatures can be high.
Practical Information
Emergency Services
For emergencies in the United States, dial 911. The nearest hospital and urgent care can be located via Google Maps from your location.
Weather
South Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate. Summers (June–September) are warm to hot and dry; winters are mild with occasional rain. Comfortable walking shoes and sunscreen are recommended for outdoor viewing in any season.
Photography
The towers are a popular subject for photographers. Exterior photography from the public sidewalk is generally unrestricted. If entering the site, confirm any photography policies with on-site staff.
Mobile Coverage
Major US carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) provide standard coverage throughout Los Angeles.
Tipping
Standard US tipping practices apply: 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 per drink at bars. No tip is expected for admission or guided tour, though check with your specific tour operator.
Safety
Watts is a neighborhood with historically elevated crime rates relative to some other parts of Los Angeles. Visitors to the towers generally report straightforward, uneventful experiences at the site itself, particularly during staffed open hours. Standard urban awareness is appropriate: be attentive to your surroundings, don't leave valuables visible in a parked car, and keep personal belongings secure.
Visiting during daylight hours and during the site's regular open periods is advisable. Traveling in a small group is a sensible precaution, as it is in many urban environments.
The LAPD Southeast Division serves the area. For non-emergency LAPD contact, verify the current number via the LAPD official website.
Local Culture & Etiquette
Watts Towers sits within a neighborhood that has been predominantly African American and, in recent decades, heavily Latino. Understanding a little of Watts' history — including the significance of the 1965 uprising and the artistic movements it catalyzed — adds meaningful context to a visit. Simon Rodia himself was an Italian immigrant working-class laborer, and his towers were built during the same decades that Watts was being shaped by the Great Migration.
Approach the surrounding neighborhood with the same respect you would extend to any community you're visiting as an outsider. The towers are a source of genuine local pride. Engaging with the Arts Center's programming, if available during your visit, is one of the more culturally substantive ways to spend time at the site beyond exterior viewing.
