California's own majestic geyser is powered by a subterranean volcano.

This historic California cemetery holds the bodies of veterans of both the Civil War and the Donner Party.

As fallout from an irrigation project, a formerly cottonwood-lined stream is now a sandy, desolate, post-apocalyptic channel lined with weathered stumps and tumbleweeds.

An ill-fated attempt to grow wheat in the sagebrush steppe of northeastern Nevada.

Semaphore saints, a golden dragon's head, and a stone carved with religious warnings all call this cathedral home.

An old railroad grade built for the construction of Hoover Dam is now a recreational trail featuring several tunnels and sweeping views of Lake Mead.

The world's only teal arches exist in a city that cares more about its aesthetic than an Instagram influencer.

This settlement on the original Transcontinental Railroad began by harvesting timber, but transitioned to a forgotten 19th-century industry: harvesting ice.

Europe's first floating restaurant is home to a hilarious legend.

Two craters, which probably erupted within the last 1,500 years and are now filled by alkaline lakes, represent Nevada's youngest known volcanic activity.

Drive up a paved road into "Nevada's Yosemite" for exquisite views and mountain hiking in an alpine setting.

This hiking/biking/horse trail along an old railroad grade features trestles, tunnels, and a roadless stretch through the scenic Susan River canyon.

A deep toxic lake fills this abandoned open-pit copper mine, now a Superfund site.

His discovery kicked off the Gold Rush. One of the hands on this commemorative statue points to the spot where he found the precious metal.

A Wild West saloon that helped define a generation of psychedelic rock.

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

The tallest bridge in California was constructed for a project that was eventually cancelled.

A train tunnel that was made obsolete by the dam it helped create.

At this 1940s-era neighborhood favorite, you can still drink a cherry phosphate.

This Old West eatery along America's Loneliest Road was originally a stop on the Pony Express.

On October 26, 1963, a 12-kiloton nuclear device was detonated here in granite some 1,211 feet below the ground surface.

One of South America's most exclusive resorts has a storied history dating back to World War II.

Eastern zen meets Western grit in these four little trees growing out of a rock on Lake Tahoe’s Nevada shore.

Built to hold Gold Rush wealth, this building has withstood the test of time.