Roadside Americana · California
Watts Towers
Simon Rodia’s 99-ft mosaic spires
TypeFolk Art & Sculpture
StateCalifornia
WhenYear-round
How to visitGrounds free to view; tower tours ticketed
Seventeen interlaced steel towers — the tallest nearly 100 feet — that Italian immigrant Simon Rodia built by hand over 33 years in South Los Angeles, encrusted in tile, glass, and seashell. A National Historic Landmark and a marvel of outsider art.
The photo
The mosaic spires against the LA sky.
Pair it with
- Los Angeles
- Watts
- Downtown LA
- California coast
Roadside attractions keep their own quirky hours and can change owners, close, or move — confirm it’s open before a long detour, respect private property and art, and leave it as iconic as you found it.
Build a trip around roadside stops like this.
Roamward turns spots like this into a real road trip on your phone — the scenic drive, the stops, and the detours, planned around the vibe you’re after. Get early access: