This 19th century hydroelectric powerhouse was the first of its kind.

"You don't need a rocket scientist to build a steam engine, but we've got one." -Museum docent on the credentials of a restoration volunteer.

A relic from a forgotten bakery chain still spins atop a diner.

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

Pillars made of 700 pieces of luggage climb to the ceiling of Sacramento Airport's baggage claim.

Opened as part of the New Deal, the training facility now features World War II-era structures and a pylon that once stood at the World Trade Center.

Thousands of turbines whir at the origin of North American wind power.

A museum dedicated to restoring vintage aircraft, located at a working airport.

Sports history, made in the Arroyo Seco.

These colossal desert barcodes have been fine-tuning spy satellites for decades.

Where a railroad loops under or over itself to rise or drop more than 70 feet in a short distance.

The oldest lawn bowling club in the United States.

A British pub embodies the spirit of a California legend.

The echoes of a railroad town that solemnly mark the end of the line.

Etched into a dry lake bed, this massive directional indicator is accurate without magnets.

The stone walls of a home built to withstand a California wildfire still stand after more than a century.

The first safe in this California town had to hold all the gold.

Apartment building was once posh playground to the Hollywood elite.

The oldest U.S. Government building in California, and it's State Historic Landmark #1.

Special tunnels built so that frogs won't be killed when crossing the highway.

This 19th century train workshop is a treasure trove of railroad history.

This odd little museum holds exhibits on everything from blacksmith equipment to hair jewelry.

A decommissioned Naval base now rents itself out for people who want to blow stuff up.

A dry lake is what remains of a community founded on a real estate scam.