A tribute to one man's legacy of improving the accordion's reputation.

George Lucas donated this park to honor the birthplace of his two biggest movie franchises.

This quirky UFO-shaped curiosity is often mistaken for the airport’s control tower.

A herd of 150 bison live on California's Santa Catalina Island and are at the heart of an ongoing debate between environmental protection and economic expansion.

One woman's Viking Castle on Lake Tahoe.

A rococo retro-futurist future-rustic vernacular between yesterday’s tomorrow and the future that never was.

This old-world mansion with lush gardens is a gem in the heart of Silicon Valley.

This controversial depiction of the "Founder of California" looks as though it was sculpted from mashed potatoes.

The graffiti-covered remnants of a former triangulation station are balanced precariously on this California peak.

A trash dump made beautiful by nature's power.

There are lots of hands and feet stamped in the cement in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater, but Mel left behind something extra.

A stellar example of Art & Crafts architecture, and a movie set to boot.

Sports history, made in the Arroyo Seco.

Hiding amid the largest camellia collection in the country lies a charming children's maze, donated by a secret admirer.

The neighborhood of Eagle Rock is named after a gigantic boulder with a shadowy surprise.

This nondescript tunnel has been featured in a number of iconic movies, from “Roger Rabbit” to “Back to the Future.”

A modern frieze of ancient Grecian mythological figures playing a national pastime.

These subterranean storage areas hold emergency water reserves.

Relics of the 1894 Midwinter Exposition continue to delight visitors today.

San Francisco's oldest surviving monument and meeting place for 1906 survivors.

San Francisco's urban bison herd has persisted in the face of extinction, development, and disease.

This concrete tangle of square pipes has stood as a proud thorn in the city's side since the '70s.

Tiki luxury on Nob Hill.

This private residence was the template for one of the most beloved television homes of all time.