Polytropa's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Big Pine, California

Methuselah Tree

Once thought to be the oldest living tree in the world, Methuselah was germinated before the Egyptian pyramids were built.
Orick, California

Fern Canyon

Canyon walls shrouded in ferns.
Crestline, California

Heart Rock Falls

Carved by a waterfall in a hard-to-reach rock formation, this heart-shaped rock has inspired romantics for decades.
Humboldt County, California

Avenue of the Giants

One of the most scenic stretches of road in America winds between some of the country's oldest trees.
Sequoia National Park, California

General Sherman

Quite simply the largest tree in the world (by volume).
Calipatria, California

Salvation Mountain

A hand-built folk art installation covered with messages of God's love.
Mammoth Lakes, California

Devils Postpile National Monument

Towering basalt columns, a creation of fire and ice.
Inyo County, California

Sailing Stones of Racetrack Playa

The rocks in this arid basin leave trails of movement behind them.
Sponsored by Visit California
Los Angeles, California

La Brea Tar Pits Dragonfly Fossils

These delicate buggers are some of the rarest fossils that have bubbled up from the Tar Pits.
Fort Bragg, California

Glass Beach

A trash dump made beautiful by nature's power.
San Francisco, California

Good Vibrations Antique Vibrator Museum

Its buzzing collection honors vibrator history.
Los Angeles, California

Garden of Oz

Hidden in the hills of Hollywood, this secluded Oz-themed garden is dotted with dozens of thrones.
Los Angeles, California

Old Zoo Picnic Area

The abandoned zoo enclosures offer a perfect place to experience the other side of the bars.
San Francisco, California

Seward Street Slides

Bring your own cardboard to the slippery slopes of concrete hidden in a neighborhood park.
San Francisco, California

Alcatraz Island

In all of the 29 years it was in operation, no prisoners ever escaped successfully... or so they claim.
San Jose, California

The Winchester Mystery House

A peculiar mansion built by the troubled heir to the Winchester Rifle Company fortune.
Silver Spring, Maryland

Acorn Park

Giant acorn-shaped 19th century gazebo from which suburban Washingtonians gazed upon the original "silver" spring.
Silver Spring, Maryland

'Coastline' Wave Pool

Live data is transmitted from the Atlantic coast to instantly recreate the ocean waves in this fountain at the NOAA headquarters.
Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore Basilica

The design of this historic domed church was influenced by Thomas Jefferson and intended as a statement of religious freedom.
Waltham, Massachusetts

Usen Castle

This castle constructed in 1928 was crafted from drawings of Lismore Castle in Ireland.
Annapolis, Maryland

Guardians of the First Amendment Memorial

This memorial honors five journalists who were killed in a mass shooting in 2018, and affirms the importance of the first amendment.
Bladensburg, Maryland

Bostwick House

This Georgian-style house built in 1746 is the oldest surviving structure in Bladensburg.
Germantown, Maryland

Black Rock Mill

Built in 1815, the stabilized ruins of the grist mill and sawmill are now gated, but interpretive displays on the features and functions of the mill preserve its history.
Annapolis, Maryland

The Hall of Presidents Before Washington

A total of 14 men held the title of "president" before George Washington—their historical legacies are enshrined in the lobby of a hotel.