Hidden beneath a lake for decades, this brutalist mine has now emerged from beneath the receding waters.

A breathtaking 19th-century trail overlooks Lake Tahoe.

The Empire Mine is "one of the oldest, largest, deepest, longest and richest gold mines in California."

"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.

Towering basalt columns, a creation of fire and ice.

A popular tourist cave with a dark past.

Its dark depths conceal millions of rare, delicate crystal formations.

The only parking meter in the entire town, it is surrounded by 100 free spaces.

A working miniature city designed to teach kids about safety and presumably city planning.

This museum looks at the history of one of America's most famous prisons and most beloved albums.

The now-abandoned tunnels were built for the transcontinental railroad on the route where the first wagon train entered California.

A picturesque example of brute-force engineering conquering nature.

A unique museum where guests can rent and operate a locomotive.