Los Angeles is inviting visitors back inside one of its most joyful landmarks. The Watts Towers Arts Center Campus, at 1727 East 107th Street, reopened to the public on July 8, 2026, after a temporary closure in June, and guided tours of the Watts Towers are running again this fall — including 11:00 a.m. tours on October 26, 27 and 28, and on Sunday-to-Wednesday dates throughout November.
The towers were built by hand by Simon Rodia, an Italian immigrant, over 33 years, rising as a colorful, mosaic-covered celebration of patience and imagination in the Watts neighborhood. The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs says its roughly 30-minute guided tour is the only way to gain access inside the towers, and guides share the history, cultural significance and artistic process behind the work, described as a masterpiece of folk art and a symbol of resilience and community spirit.
There is extra reason to celebrate this year. On June 30, 2026, the World Monuments Fund chose the Watts Towers as one of its Irreplaceable America designees, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, providing preservation support to heritage places that tell the multifaceted history of the United States.
A tour also includes the Watts Towers Arts Center, with rotating exhibitions of contemporary art, plus the Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center and the Garden Studio Gallery, both welcoming visitors again. Tours are listed at $0 to $7, making this an affordable, uplifting stop for families and art lovers exploring Los Angeles.
Photo: Leviclancy / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
