#43 Getty Villa
The Getty Villa is an extension to the J. Paul Getty Museum. Located on the coast in the Pacific Palisades, this art museum displays art from ancient Greece, Rome & Etruria. The collection contains more than 44,000 pieces dating from 6,500BC to 400AD. Beautiful exhibits and galleries surrounded by courtyards overlook the Pacific Ocean in this 64 acre art institution.
#36 Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park is a state park in California's Central Valley. The park preserves the town of Allensworth; the only town in California to be founded, financed and governed by African Americans. Allen Allensworth founded the town in 1908. He was a Kentucky-born slave who escaped to become a union soldier during the Civil War. He was also the first African American reach the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The people of Allensworth came together to create their own American Dream: a place of freedom where they could control their own destiny.
#35 Salvation Mountain
Salvation Mountain is an American Folk Art Work by Leonard Clark Knight deep in the heart of the Colorado Desert. Salvation Mountain is Leonard's Legacy to the World dedicated to his Love of God. Through this monument, he conveys his message of love, compassion and respect for all. The work is made from thousands of gallons of lead-free paint and is endorsed by the Folk Art Society of America. It has also been called a national treasure by the Congressional Record of the United States.
#34 USS Midway Museum
The USS Midway Museum is an important museum at San Diego's Navy Pier and is one of the most visited museums with well over a million visitors annually. USS Midway was the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century. Commissioned after WWII, it was the largest ship in the world at the time. It sailed between 1945 and 1992 and served about 200 thousand sailors. San Diego is a fitting home since naval aviation was born here. Explore over 60 areas of this massive ship.
#8 San Diego Natural History Museum
The San Diego Natural History Museum (theNAT) is one of Balboa Park's great treasures. Founded in 1874, it is one of the oldest scientific institutions in the west and the oldest in Southern California. TheNAT has a great selection of exhibits including dinosaurs, fossils and skulls but the new Coast to Cactus exhibit is a reason to visit in itself.
Coast to Cactus showcases the astonishing diversity of Southern California from its beaches, canyons, mountains and deserts. This variety of terrain is known as a biodiversity hotspot because of its high concentration of species. It is one of only 35 in the world. This interactive exhibit reveals the great beauty of what makes SoCal so special!
#3 RMS Queen Mary
The RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner docked in the Port of Long Beach. It sailed the Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967. Luxury & Opulence is the key to this Art Deco Dream. Queen Mary was the last great ocean liner built during the golden age of world travel. Elizabeth Taylor, Lucille Ball, Gloria Swanson & Fred Astaire among many other silver screen stars called this sailing palace home while on voyage to Europe.
During WWII, it was nicknamed the 'Grey Ghost' and transported 765,429 Military Personnel. It became the worlds largest and fastest troopship. Winston Churchill even considered it his headquarters at sea. In 1947, passenger service resumed. Modern amenities such as air conditioning were added but this would not prove to be enough as jet planes began to change the industry.
Queen Mary opened as a tourist attraction in 1971 and continues to delight today with a hotel, museum and restaurants. The ship in full can be explored at your leisure. It is even on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Historic Hotels of America. One visit to Queen Mary will have you longing for more. Are you ready to set sail?
