Watts Towers, Folk art monument in Watts, Los Angeles, US
Watts Towers is a group of seventeen structures made of steel rods and concrete that rise up to 99 feet (30 meters) into the sky, covered with glass fragments, ceramic pieces and shells. The towers stand close together on a narrow lot and are connected by arches and walls that form a single composition.
Simon Rodia began building in 1921 and worked alone for three decades without machines or scaffolding. He left the property in 1954 and never returned, while the city later attempted to demolish the structures.
The creator brought Italian building traditions to California and collected everyday objects from neighbors and local businesses. Every inch of surface contains ceramic fragments, bottle glass and shells pressed into the concrete by hand.
The towers stand in a small park that opens only for guided visits, while the adjacent arts center hosts exhibits and programs. Access is through a narrow street in the Watts neighborhood, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) south of downtown Los Angeles.
During tests in 1959, engineers pulled on the tallest structure with a truck and steel cables applying 10,000 pounds (4,500 kilograms) of force. The towers did not move, but the cables snapped, and the city abandoned its demolition plan.
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