Aqueducts have dramatically changed this old lake, now home to tufa towers and its very own species of tiny brine shrimp.

A large sculptural artwork and garden in Escondido, California.

Twelve plaster figures inspired by da Vinci's famed painting haunt the desert landscape above a real-life ghost town.

Odd outsider art installations surround a Gold Rush-era ghost town.

A mining town once rife with murderous disputes over its copious treasures now creates income as a popular spot for photo shoots.

Formerly frequented by Hollywood stars and now open for tours.

This famous Nevada gold mine, once a hotbed of Wild West shenanigans, is now open for tours.

A desert ghost town—occupied for only 12 years—was once home to more than 500 silver mines.

Finally the worlds of UFO enthusiasts and beef jerky lovers have come together in this roadside shop.

The abandoned train depot now doubles as a well-placed rest stop for those who take the road less traveled.

The most isolated mailbox in America lets desert travelers record their passing.

"Only the devil could play golf here."

Ten 25-foot-tall, beehive-shaped kilns, abandoned in Death Valley.

The oldest structure in a beachside California city was built to serve eight students.

What began as an illegal art installation has become a symbol for unity, ocean awareness, and coastline preservation.

This unique sanctuary invites you to interact with the beautiful birds.

Behind this beachfront shop lies a spectacular, colorful sea cave with an equally colorful past.

This head-spinningly bizarre Depression-era art cave is wall-to-wall quartz and Jesus.