The Watts Towers, Towers of Simon Rodia, or Nuestro Pueblo are a collection of 17 interconnected sculptural towers, architectural structures, and individual sculptural features and mosaics within the site of the artist's original residential property in Watts, Los Angeles, California, United States. The entire site of towers, structures, sculptures, pavement and walls were designed and built solely by Sabato Rodia, an Italian immigrant construction worker and tile mason, over a period of 33 years from 1921 to 1954. The tallest of the towers is 99.5 feet (30.3 m). The work is an example of outsider art and Italian-American naïve art.
Watts Towers
Doorway detail
Wall detail, with mosaic
An explanation of how the Watts Towers are maintained
Watts is a neighborhood in southern Los Angeles, California. It is located within the South Los Angeles region, bordering the cities of Lynwood, Huntington Park and South Gate to the east and southeast, respectively, and the unincorporated community of Willowbrook to the south.
"Welcome to Watts" sign on Central Avenue
The Watts Towers, created by Simon Rodia
Watts in 1912.
Councilman F. P. Buyer (far left) and Mayor Frank Shaw (second from right) at a groundbreaking ceremony at Watts City Hall, 1936.