South Los Angeles | The Mind - Blowing Off

- the - Beaten - Path Attraction: Watts Towers✨ I was totally blown away when I first came here a decade ago~ The Watts Towers, located in South Los Angeles At first glance, the shape of this tower cluster is so peculiar, with a kind of Gothic and magical beauty. Standing amidst a residential area in South Los Angeles, it gives an unreal and fantastic feeling. When you look closer, you'll find that every corner is filled with well - thought - out designs and details, full of creativity and fun. Only after hearing the story behind these towers do you realize they are truly a miracle. In 1920, after Simon Rodia, an Italian immigrant miner, retired, he used most of his life's savings to buy a small plot of land in the southern outskirts of Los Angeles. He planned to realize his architectural dream here~ He had no sketches, no scaffolding, only the simple devices he built himself. He also didn't have the money to buy construction materials, so he scavenged from trash. Broken glass, shattered ceramics, shells, and iron wires all became his raw materials. In 1955, he passed away from a serious illness, leaving behind this unfinished masterpiece. There's also a saying that one day, he handed the key to his neighbor, said "I've finished," and then disappeared forever~ Over the decades, the Watts Towers have gradually been discovered by more and more people. Nowadays, it has a history of over a hundred years. Some even think it can rival Gaudi's works. In fact, at that time, there wasn't even a ladder. Simon climbed up circle by circle to build. After shaping the outline with iron wires, he decorated it with colorful tile fragments. For more than three decades, day in and day out, it was all supported by his own hands and passion. Suddenly, I feel it's my honor to see these Watts Towers with my own eyes. In recent years, due to tower maintenance, the interiors of the iron towers haven't been open to the public. Maybe they'll reopen for tours after a while. But it's still great to admire them from the outside, as there are so many things worth seeing. Now, an art center has also been built here, with some activities and performances. 📍 1765 E 107th St, Los Angeles, CA 90002 #LifeInLA #EatingDrinkingAndHavingFunInLA #OffTheBeatenPathSpots 🏟😅