Summary

• California’s diverse climate zones ensure a rich biodiversity in its national and state parks.
• The Watts Towers in Simon Rodia Park showcase monumental architectural sculptures in LA.
• Simon Rodia’s lasting legacy lives on in the impressive towers he built by hand.

California is characterized by a mix of Mediterranean, desert, steppe, highland and cool inland climates, resulting in a rich biodiversity that accounts for one-third of the country’s biodiversity. For example, the Golden State has several popular national parks with stunning flora and fauna, as well as state parks with exceptional features.

For example, MacKerricher State Park has the most sand dunes in the state, while Mount Diablo State Park offers unparalleled, iconic views rivaled only by Kilimanjaro. Lovers of art, architecture and upcycling shouldn’t miss the Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park. The latter only sees 40,000 visitors a year—a far cry from Sonoma Coast State Park’s whopping 2.6 million visitors—but it’s well worth a visit.

Here are reasons why Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park should be on your travel radar.

What makes Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park so great

The park began with a vision that lasted 33 years

Los Angeles is dotted with famous landmarks, from Universal Studios to the Hollywood Sign and other can’t-miss attractions like Rodeo Drive and the Santa Monica Beach and Pier. The Watts Towers, an impressive collection of 17 interconnected sculptures and structures, are certainly lesser known, but they are impressive in their own way.

“The Watts Towers are a work of monumental architectural sculpture. They consist of a core of structural steel wrapped in a wire mesh covered with mortar and inlaid with bricks, glass, shells, ceramics and stones.”

Today the site is a National Historic Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a California State Historic Monument, a California State Historic Park, and a Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Monument.

Guided tours are only available from Thursday to Saturday and are subject to availability.

Adjacent to the buildings is the Watts Towers Arts Center, a community space founded in 1970. It displays contemporary artwork, offers “classes for teachers and students in painting, sculpture, photography, music, dance, gardening, tiling and other multimedia arts,” lectures, 30-minute tours of the towers and various events.

The Watts Towers Arts Center Campus offers free on-site parking at 10624 Graham Ave.

Who exactly was Simon Rodia?

A self-taught artist of Italian descent

Simon “Sam” Rodia was born in 1879 in Serino, a picturesque little town in Italy’s Campania region. At the age of 15, he emigrated to Pennsylvania. He moved around and worked in various construction jobs until he settled in Watts, a neighborhood in southern Los Angeles. In 1921, he began building the towers, which he affectionately called “Nuestro Pueblo” (Our Town).

This long-term project became his obsession, and he carefully decorated each section with found objects, including pieces of ceramic titles, seashells, mirrors, pottery, and soda glass bottles, some of which were reportedly brought to him by neighborhood children.

After the apparent completion of the “world’s largest structure built by a single person,” Rodia apparently had enough of permitting disputes with the city of Los Angeles. He sold the property to a neighbor and moved to Martinez, where he died in 1965.

A photo of Rodia can be seen on the cover of the Beatles’ legendary eighth studio album.
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
right next to Bob Dylan.

What visitors think about Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park

Opinions and tips from Tripadvisor users

Watts Towers has a 4-star rating on TripAdvisor based on reviews from over 265 visitors. Find out what they thought of the park, including tips and warnings.

Only tested and approved service animals are allowed in the park.

This HSP does not accept anniversary cards.