The Watts Towers aren’t just art; they’re a celebrity. They’ve appeared in movies like Destroyer and The Doors. Musicians like Eric Burdon wrote songs about them. In 2019, a rapper named Kendrick Lamar filmed a video here. The towers even have their own annual festival called the Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival. Jazz music + metal spires = the perfect Sunday.
But the best part? Sam Rodia never got rich. He sold the house and the towers for a song in 1954. He moved away and died penniless. He probably didn’t care—he just wanted to build something pointy. The towers are now a National Historic Landmark, visited by thousands each year. Sam’s backyard is a tourist trap, and I mean that as the highest compliment.
How to Visit (Without Getting Weird Looks)
The towers are at 1765 E. 107th Street, in Watts. It’s a real neighborhood, so don’t be surprised if kids are playing basketball next to a bronze Titan of art. You can touch them (gently). You can walk under them. You can see the coy pond Sam built, which is now a sad little puddle. But the vibe is pure magic.
Drone Footage of the Large and Intricate Watts Towers Sculptures in
Pro tip: Go on a sunny day around 4 PM. The shadows get weird, and the glass fragments catch the light. You’ll feel like you’re inside a kaleidoscope made by a mad scientist. Also, bring $10 for a docent tour—the guides are hilarious and know where Sam hid an old wine bottle in the mortar.
So why should you care? Because the Watts Towers are proof that one man, a pile of junk, and absolute crazy can create something immortal. They’re a finger in the eye of “you can’t.” They’re weird, wonky, and wonderful. And they’re just sitting there, waiting for you to go, “Wow, humans are ridiculous. Thank goodness.”
Now go. Visit the towers. Bring a bottle of soda and smash it for Sam. (Okay, don’t actually smash it—but you get the spirit.)
