The Story of Southern California In 100 Landmarks - Paperback

America turns 250.

Let's go find the candles.

Looking for a history lesson that doesn't feel like homework? You've found it. At 250history.com, the Semiquincentennial Series brings each state's distinctive landmarks to center stage to tell their fast and fun story.

We've wandered through big cities, tiny towns, muddy trails, and neon-lit highways-uncovering 5,000 historic gems along the way.

The Semiquincentennial isn't just a mouthful-it's a reminder that history is alive, sometimes weird, and always waiting to be rediscovered.

Whether you're traveling by road, by printed page, or by imagination; whether you are a lifelong native or visiting for a week, we invite you to explore 100 California landmarks that illuminate the one-of-a-kind story of SoCal.

Koalas... Spanish missions... funiculars... amusement piers... Eichler Homes... sport fishing... stylish gas stations... Mid-century Modern... surfing... fast food... Harvey Houses... 20 mule teams... oil gushers... blimps... the CCC... fire lookouts... aviation milestones... Japanese internment camps... octagon houses... Carnegie libraries... post office murals... Googie architecture... railroading marvels... citrus... Frank Lloyd Wright... utopias... The Beatles... cliff swallows... This book will have you telling stories like a native in no time.

The photos and stories collected here are a fast and fun way to learn the explanations behind the quirks, the traditions and the secrets that make Southern California uniquely California. Why was the first lighthouse in SoCal a failure? Solved. Where did the tradition of the Hollywood studio tour begin? A mystery no more. Who had the idea for the world famous Muscle Beach? Identified. Where was the Golden State's first airport? Revealed. What company manufactured the kit house Richard Nixon grew up in? Nobody knows.

It is a story only SoCal can call its own. A story told in 100 landmarks. Almost all the selections within are open to the public, or a t least visible from public spaces. So, fire up the GPS and see the story of SoCal standing in plain sight on California streets!