The beauty and the beast of hydraulic mining is on full display at this California Historic State Park.

Downieville's largest Gold Rush structure still standing has one of the longest bars in California.

Remnants of the United States's largest accidental oil spill still mar a California valley.

The San Andreas Fault spectacularly offsets this creek.

A unique market that brings together various goods and cultures.

A 90-acre park on former landfill that hosts an annual kite festival.

"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 sparse, solitary sequoia still stands as a living tribute to the famous conservationist who planted it—but it's dying.

Of all the origin stories for weed's secret code, this one likely has the goods.

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

Frank Lloyd Wright died a year before construction on his largest public project even began.

The oldest Naval cemetery on the West Coast.

The oldest orange tree in California spawned a generation of citrus farmers.

Come for the records, stay for the retro pinball machines.

The timepiece that exonerated a labor radical accused of a parade bombing that killed ten people.

The perfect spot for a picnic, right next to a giant ballistic missile.

The former Naval shipyard is open for exploring - mostly.

An enchanting tunnel of cypress trees leads to an old morse code station still used today.

This abandoned boat was left in place thanks to its rotting beauty.

The largest Star Wars collection in the world is its own galaxy of collectibles.

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

A poignant memorial to a young boy whose death spurred a dramatic increase in organ donations in Italy—dubbed the "Nicholas Effect."

340 bicycles, 65 feet high.

Celebrating the transformation of trash into objects of beauty.