A concrete arrow from a 1920s network of airmail beacons is still preserved at the western edge of suburban Reno.

This wilderness hike to a waterfall has an unlikely beginning in suburban Reno.

A picturesque example of brute-force engineering conquering nature.

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

An abandoned mine serves as a stark memorial of when mercury was a valued strategic metal.

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

This cave was hidden for thousands of years, storing the worldly goods of ancient Native Americans.

The viewpoint for this attractive, off-the-beaten-path waterfall is reached by a paved, wheelchair-accessible trail.

Red ocher pictographs survive in this tufa rock shelter on the shore of an ancient lake.

A little-known, but surprisingly large waterfall on the Little Truckee River in the northern Sierra Nevada.

A collision of human error and natural geothermal pressure created this rainbow-colored geologic wonder.

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

How a bat poo mine became a major Native American archaeological site—and connections to legendary red-haired giants.

A Native American petroglyph, the site of an emigrants' waystation, and the ruins of an early 20th-century sheep camp are all found at this crossroads.

A well-preserved set of ruins not far from Lovelock.

The Wonder Road aka Doobie Lane, a mile-long strip of dirt road filled with folk art.

A mine in the Sierra Nevada that produced nothing but barren quartz.

One of the largest fleets of armored vehicles in the world, sitting out in the California desert.

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

What began as a prominent Burning Man art piece is now an iconic symbol of downtown Reno.

More than 700 species live within this murky marvel of a swamp on California's coast.

This Big Sur waterfall drops 80 feet directly into the Pacific Ocean, and inspired the hillside house up top.

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

One of the most elaborate displays of Jellyfish is on display at the aquarium.