A showcase of engineering might that was also symbolic of westward expansion.

"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.

Hidden in a hotel parking lot is a strange historical plaque erected by an obscure fraternal society.

A watering hole where the options for seating include a bar, patio, or subterranean cave.

This dry lake bed contains the oldest known petroglyphs in North America.

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

A breathtaking 19th-century trail overlooks Lake Tahoe.

An abandoned cyanide mill is now a haunting magnet for graffiti and illegal parties.

This ordinary-looking mailbox has a rather explosive history.

The healing properties of this well attracted royals and commoners throughout the Middle Ages.