Picture of the week

Towers of mystery

Watts Towers, a complex set of structures found within an urban neighborhood of southwest Los Angeles.  These towers and supporting structures were created over a 33 year old period by a local Italian construction worker and artisan Sabato Rodia. He pieced them together with locally scrounged material with the help of the neighborhood kids in his spare time.  According to wikipedia not all the locals were happy with his endeavor, with some trying to sabotage it, and other accusing the towers being some secret radio communication facility for talking to the Japanese during World War II.  Ultimately Rodia got tired of the neighborhood opposition and gave away the property in 1955, moving out of Los Angeles. 

The city then tried to raze the towers, but were thwarted by some local art aficionados including a curator from the Los Angeles County Muesem of Art. They were able to prove the construction was sufficiently sturdy to meet safety standards, enlisting some architects and engineers sympathetic to the cause. Today the Watts Towers are protected and designated as both a National Historic Landmark and California Historic Landmark.

I visited these towers during a pass through Los Angeles after a clearing rainstorm.  The neighborhood is in a higher poverty area infamous for the Watts riots back in 1992 and previously in 1965.  Both situations were triggered after interaction with police that escalated out of control. Thus it is good idea to plan your visit with a mimimum of camera gear, travel with others if possible, and preferably earlier in the day.

All content and images are property of Stephen Fischer Photography, copyright 2013.  Last updated: 12/15/2013   ()