One part local history, 99 parts gruesome haunted house.

France's national museum of scientific and industrial instruments.

Recovered from the brink of extinction, at home in the Financial District.

Giant, friendly pelicans in Central London, the most unlikely of places.

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

Magical-looking cottages that inspired one of the most famous animated films ever.

A free library to stumble across, one of many placed worldwide if you know where to look.

The only surviving prototype for Buckminster Fuller's house of the future.

A cult following celebrates the legend that belies this curious podiatrists' office sign which has worked its way into song, literature, animation, and the visual arts.

The Los Angeles flood disaster that took 400 lives and ended the career of William Mulholland.

Large but largely ignored, these 42 life-size Liberty Bell replicas were a peculiar, unexplained feature on the facade of a Macy's department store.

Get up close to emus and ostriches, or buy their tasty meat.

Protecting the dead from opportunistic body snatchers.

Where there's quartz, there must be gold. Thus is the story of the mines of Julian, and the titillating times of the Gold Rush.

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

Costumed elves and mountain bikers co-exist peacefully at this abandoned Christmas-themed adventure park.

A world-class observatory in the California desert.

The final resting place of soldiers' loyal canine companions.

The most loyal of little dogs, or a Victorian era publicity stunt?

On a quiet suburban street stands a peculiarly decorated house covered in mosaics.

The legendary building that needed ghostly approval before being built.

An increasingly eccentric apartment building, topped with winged beasties.

Bug-devouring flora are the stars of a special wing of the glass conservatory.

A lone cannonball remains lodged in the walls of the Hotel de Sens as a sober reminder of a revolution.