Watts Towers
The Watts Towers, Towers of Simon Rodia, or Nuestro Pueblo ("our town" in Spanish) 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 ("Simon" or "Sam") Rodia (1879 or 1886 to 1965), 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 (or Art Brut) and Italian-American naïve art.
Watts Towers of Simon Rodia Simon Rodia State Historic Park | |
Watts Towers | |
| Location | 1765 E. 107th Street, Los Angeles, California 90002 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 33°56′19.46″N 118°14′27.77″W |
| Built | 1921–1954 |
| Architect | Sabato Rodia |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000297 |
| CHISL No. | 993 |
| LAHCM No. | 15 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1977 |
| Designated NHL | December 14, 1990 |
| Designated CHISL | August 17, 1990 |
| Designated LAHCM | March 1, 1963 |
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The Watts Towers were designated a National Historic Landmark and a California Historical Landmark in 1990. They are also a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, and one of nine folk art sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places in Los Angeles. The Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park encompasses the Watts Towers site.