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

An old whaling station now serves to give the public a look at the commercial whaling industry, no longer a part of Monterey's economy.

The oldest U.S. Government building in California, and it's State Historic Landmark #1.

The California capital city once stood 10 feet lower than it does today.

Two rocks in a perpetual kiss and one of "the most romantic spot in America."

The oldest lighthouse on America's west coast no longer needs keepers, yet they maintain the site anyhow.

California's own medieval Italian castle, authentic down to the 300-year-old iron maiden in the dungeon.

A burnt orange monolithic dome structure perched on a hillside near Interstate 280.

This giant shopping mall still holds signs of its automotive past.

A giant chess set, minus the psychedelic drug trip.

A peculiar mansion built by the troubled heir to the Winchester Rifle Company fortune.

This old-world mansion with lush gardens is a gem in the heart of Silicon Valley.

From the sky, a kaleidoscope of color brightens the grey landscape of the San Francisco Bay.

A giant can of fruit cocktail is all that remains of what was once the world's largest cannery.

One of the largest free-standing structures ever built, this dirigible hangar is now simply a giant skeleton.

A hidden world of exotic succulents and cacti.

Guarded by the Angel of Grief, the Stanford family tomb attracts an odd mix of halloween revelry and somber contemplation.

A humble garage, world-famous for being the epicenter of a technology revolution.

Rodin's famous depiction of Dante's 'Inferno', amidst a sculpture garden of many of his other works.

The first high-tech company in the valley that actually worked with silicon devices.

This quirky UFO-shaped curiosity is often mistaken for the airport’s control tower.

A former utopian healing center created by a huckster and built by derelicts.

The short oil boom of Venice Beach, and its swift removal from the tourism-laden landscape.

After starting as a whimsical tourist attraction that eventually found its way to ruin, these renovated canals offer a lush and exotic locale on the Pacific Coast.