Places Mortuarism Wants to Go

Stroll the grounds built by murder, suicide, and dirty oil money at one of Hollywood's most filmed mansions.

Acres of natural wonders left behind by a socialite-turned-gardener.

Life in this isolated, hilltop lighthouse was lonely, but it sure was lovely.

Standing in a state of "arrested decay," this ghost town allows for a detailed peek into Gold Rush life in an unusually harsh climate.

This naturally heated mountainous creek has created a group of neon blue pools of potentially deadly boiling water.

Trails through lava-carved tube-caves display sparkling bacteria and a rich history.

A ghost town at the airport is now a refuge for blue butterflies.

A common entry point to the Griffith Observatory trail holds its own wonders.

The last remaining relic of San Francisco's glittering 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition.

A hotel and restaurant serving as the mecca of kitsch.

Quite simply the largest tree in the world (by volume).

The taxidermied remains of the "last wild grizzly bear in California" and of the symbol of the state of California.

This museum looks at the history of one of America's most famous prisons and most beloved albums.

A lawless town deep in Death Valley was famous for its riches and death rate turned YouTube famous.

This rare tortoise skeleton has been hanging around the downtown Los Angeles museum for over a century.

An amazing collection of fantastic reptiles, amphibians, spiders, and insects.

Bits and pieces from the ill-fated Donner Party's winter cabins.

Contemporary art inspired by natural history and science drawing on ancient techniques in a modern world.

Every year, over 25,000 monarchs overwinter in Pacific Grove.

The memorial to the victims of the Jonestown Massacre carries the names of 918 lost, including one name people wish wasn't there.

Happy harbor seals frolic and snooze on this warm, sandy stretch of coast.

The awe-inspiring ship from the golden era of cruising has an incomparable history and a reputation as one of the world’s most haunted places.

A popular tourist cave with a dark past.

One of the world's largest collections of rare and magnificent bird specimens.