Although he donated over 3,000 acres to Los Angles, Griffith's life was marred by controversy.

The decor of this Hollywood movie palace just barely predated the opening of King Tut's tomb.

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

An historic and oft-filmed spot for musclebound iron pumpers on the Pacific coast.

The blinking light atop the iconic landmark has been sending secret messages for decades.

Hollywood's oldest hotel is the site of the first Academy Awards, the birthplace of Marilyn Monroe's career, and the home of Montgomery Clift's ghost.

This star-studded Old Hollywood restaurant is where fettuccine Alfredo made its United States debut.

This 'Murder House' grand mansion has starred in everything from Bones to Buffy.

Historic funicular railway, believed to be the shortest railroad in the world.

Scores of vintage street lamps shine along L.A.’s Miracle Mile.

Hollywood's most famous landmark, the "temporary" sign that has stood for decades longer than intended.

High on a hill overlooking Los Angeles lives a world famous, high-power conical Tesla Coil.

This iconic L.A. bookshop is housed in an abandoned bank—both symbolic and chic.

A second generation sun-powered marvel lights up the night.

The unbelievably opulent home built for an infamous newspaperman.

This lonesome Monterey cypress has survived centuries of wind, salt, and at least one attempt at arson.

Wander down a side street dedicated to one of the members of the Beat Generation.

A century and a half of research in the sciences and natural history, still going strong.

Beneath the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge is the “Gibraltar of the West Coast,” a fort built to protect the San Francisco Bay from naval attack.

Prone to disastrous fires, the city of San Francisco has the Guardian, a fireboat gifted by residents, to watch over them from the bay.

Over 315,000 preserved amphibians and reptiles in jars.

Inside this museum, the history of the Walt Disney Family empire is on full display.

Since 1973, this block has been home to the most concentrated collection of murals in San Francisco.

One of the oldest producers of hand-folded fortune cookies still uses its original secret recipe.