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

The "3rd largest" city in California is an empty mirage of suburbia in the middle of nowhere.

The lowest point in North America is home to an undrinkable pool surrounded by fields of geometric salt flats.

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

This railroad magnate's 19th century tower is more than a little bit out of place in the Nevada desert.

Smooth basaltic rocks tell a tale of ancient glacial waterfalls.

One of the last free public hot springs is decorated with hippie art.

A hard-to-reach oasis in a desolate corner of Death Valley National Park.

These millipedes glow not out of attraction, but as a not-too-subtle warning.

Four hundred granite steps were built into this massive rock by the National Park Service.

This ultra-modern California span is actually a titanic solar clock in disguise built by famed architect Santiago Calatrava.

Eons old volcanic activity created one of the most stunning rock formations in the United States.

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

Aqueducts have dramatically changed this old lake, now home to tufa towers and its very own species of tiny brine shrimp.

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

These once-beautiful historic graveyards are set against the barren Virginia City hills.

Back in the day everyone who was anyone played this historic western theater.

Beneath a Virginia City bar is the entrance to an abandoned gold mine.

Despite being a perfectly pleasant place to be, Loyalton can't seem to attract any visitors.

A trash dump made beautiful by nature's power.

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

One woman's Viking Castle on Lake Tahoe.

One poet's handmade, anachronistic home.

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