In the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, Simon Rodia transformed his home site into an extraordinary ensemble of 17 interconnected towers and other structures, creating one of the best-known works of American folk art. Born in Italy and trained not as an architect or sculptor but as a laborer and tile mason, Rodia built the site largely by hand from 1921 to 1954, using steel, concrete, and found materials such as broken tile, glass, shells, and porcelain. After his departure, demolition was prevented through local preservation efforts and a successful 1959 stress test. The towers have since been protected as historic landmarks and continue to undergo conservation.