#365 Hotel Del Coronado
The Hotel Del Coronado has been the place to be and be seen since opening in 1888. It was the first beach resort on the west coast and was the largest hotel in the world at the time. This National Register of Historic Places property preserves stunning Victorian & Queen Anne architecture and is the second largest wooden structure in the United States.
Hollywood royalty have used this as their playground since the 1920's including Charlie Chaplin, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz and Rudolph Valentino. The Del became even more famous from the 1959 film 'Some Like It Hot' starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Enjoy exploring this stunning landmark with some of the finest sand on Earth.
#361 Los Angeles Central Library
The Los Angeles Central Library was built in 1926 in the Art Deco architectural style with Mediterranean Revival and Egyptian influences. The crown jewel is the rotunda with its 4 massive murals, each 40 feet wide, created by artist Dean Cornwell. Each one depicts an important piece of California history: the Era of Discovery, the Building of the Missions, Founding of the Pueblo of Los Angeles and the Americanization of California.
#359 Mount Rubidoux
Located on the edge of the city, Mount Rubidoux (1,331 feet) is one of Riverside's iconic landmarks. The oldest outdoor non-denominational Easter Sunrise service in the United States started here in 1909 and would draw 30,000 people at its peak in the 20's. The mountain features a famous cross dedicated to Mission founder Father Junípero Serra as well as a World Peace Bridge. It is now a city park with more than 3 miles of hiking trails providing stunning views of Riverside and the Inland Empire.
#355 Huntington Beach Pier
Huntington Beach Pier has been a California Icon since 1904 and is one of the largest along the West Coast at 1,850 feet. Huntington Beach or 'Surf City USA' has a consistent year-round surf. Hawaii's George Freeth surfed here in 1914 to help promote the sport along with Legendary Hawaiian Olympic gold medalist Duke Kahanamoku in the 1920's. Many famous surf shops followed in the 1950's to solidify the role of HB as the 'Surf Capital of the World' during the first United States surfing championship in 1959. Enjoy a sunset stroll along this historic pier and beautiful beach.
#354 Cabazon Dinosaurs
The Cabazon Dinosaurs, 'The World's Biggest Dinosaurs', are an iconic Roadside Attraction near Palm Springs. Mr. Rex, a 100-ton Tyrannosaurus rex and Dinny the Dinosaur, a 150-ton Brontosaurus were sculpted by Claude K. Bell. Both dinosaurs are so massive, several people can fit inside while Dinny serves as a building. They are forever famous from the film, Pee Wee's Big Adventure.
#353 Union Station
Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles is the largest railroad terminal in the West serving more than 100,000 passengers each day. Opening in 1939, this was the last great railway station built during the Golden Age of train travel. Art Deco, Mission Revival, and Streamline Moderne are its architectural styles making it timeless and iconic.
#344 The Huntington
The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens has been a World Famous California Landmark since 1919. Railroad and real estate tycoon Henry E. Huntington loved art, books and gardens so created The Huntington to house his collection. British, French and American Art of the 18th, 19th & 20th Centuries stand alongside an extensive library with more than 6 million rare books and manuscripts. Highlights to the 120 acres of gorgeous landscaped gardens include the Cactus Garden, Rose Garden and Palm Garden.
#339 Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle is the former estate of famous newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. Julia Morgan designed it between 1919-47 and is known for designing more than 700 landmark California buildings. She was the first woman admitted to the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Mediterranean Revival is the main architectural style with influences of Spanish Colonial, Beaux-Arts, Italian Renaissance and Gothic.
Hearst called his ranch 'La Cuesta Encantada' (The Enchanted Hill) with its dramatic mountain to ocean vistas. He entertained Hollywood & Political elite including Charlie Chaplin, Bob Hope and Franklin D. Roosevelt. The castle has been open to the public for tours since 1958 where visitors can tour a small selection of the 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms and 127 acres of landscaped gardens and pools making it one of the busiest destinations in the state.
#326 Mission La Purisima Concepción
Mission La Purisima Concepción was the 11th of the California Missions established on December 8, 1787. At its peak, the Mission controlled 470 square miles with 24,000 cattle and sheep making it famous for hides and blankets. Today, state runs the site as a State Historic Park and is the most complete mission. The Civilian Conservation Corps and National Park Service meticulously restored the structures and dedicated it on December 7, 1941 allowing visitors to travel back to the 1820's in an authentic setting.
#324 Old Town San Diego
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park preserves 29 acres of the first European settlement on the West Coast. It was the main city center and witnessed three major eras: Spanish rule from 1769-1821, Mexican Independence from 1821-1850 and later admittance to the United States from 1850-1872. Life here remained slow-paced with a population never reaching over 700. Old Town is the most visited State Park in California with 5 original adobes, museums, shops, restaurants and gardens.
