6 Strange Monuments in California Few Know About

California is filled with famous landmarks, but some of the state’s quirkiest monuments don’t show up in travel brochures. They sit tucked along highways, in small towns, or hidden in city corners, reminders of odd stories and local pride.

I’ve gone out of my way to track down a few of them, and each left me with questions as much as answers. If you like the offbeat side of history, here are six monuments in California worth seeking out.

1. Giant Orange Stands (Central Valley and Inland Empire)

You might spot something round and bright along the back roads of California’s Central Valley or Inland Empire, a gigantic orange that isn’t fruit at all. In the mid-20th century, orange-shaped juice stands were commonplace, inviting drivers to stop for a fresh citrus drink. Today, a handful still exist, like the restored stand in Riverside, standing as nostalgia-filled monuments from a time when roadside attractions competed for travelers’ attention.

These playful buildings were more than a marketing gimmick. They represent an era when motoring was an adventure and businesses got creative to draw in customers. Many have faded away, but the survivors tell stories of family-owned operations and changing tastes.

Restorers work to keep the few remaining stands intact, painting them bright and sometimes offering drinks on hot days. If you catch one open, it’s worth a stop, to taste local history and snap a photo with something truly Californian. The Giant Orange isn’t just a relic; it’s a cheerful monument to roadside Americana.

2. Doggie Diner Heads (San Francisco)

You don’t forget your first encounter with a Doggie Diner head. These enormous fiberglass dachshund heads, each donning a chef’s hat and friendly face, once greeted fast-food customers across San Francisco. Although the Doggie Diner chain closed decades ago, the heads have become beloved pieces of public art, sometimes popping up in city parades or on display near parks.

People treat them almost like old friends, snapping photos or decorating them for holidays. Their cheerful expressions seem completely out of place on busy avenues, which only adds to their oddball charm.

The city keeps a few on permanent display, and they travel for special events, often drawing crowds who reminisce about childhood lunches. Their survival speaks to San Francisco’s love for preserving the whimsical parts of its past. The Doggie Diner heads remind me that the city has always made room for the eccentric.

3. Albino Redwood (Samuel P. Taylor State Park, Marin County)

Walking through Samuel P. Taylor State Park, I found myself searching for a tree that didn’t quite belong. The albino redwood, with its pale, almost silvery needles, stands out against the deep greens all around. Unlike its giant neighbors, this rare tree can’t make its own food and survives only by tapping into the root system of nearby redwoods.

It feels a little miraculous, honestly. There are fewer than 100 confirmed albino redwoods in the world, and seeing one in person feels a bit like stumbling upon a ghost. Botanists still debate how these trees persist, and visiting sparks questions about adaptation and survival in nature.

People sometimes call it a “ghost redwood” because of its fragile, otherworldly look. I left the park thinking about how even in a forest of giants, the strangest stories can hide in plain sight.

4. Watts Towers (Los Angeles)

Tucked in a residential area of Los Angeles, the Watts Towers never fail to surprise newcomers. Simon Rodia, a self-taught artist, spent 33 years building these twisting spires from found materials, broken bottles, seashells, tiles, and even bed frames. He finished the project on his own, without machines or blueprints, creating an unexpected masterpiece.

The result is both chaotic and beautiful. Each tower reaches skyward, decorated with everyday objects that catch the light and spark curiosity. Locals have long been proud of the site, and visitors often find themselves marveling at the scope of Rodia’s vision.

Decades after their completion, the towers are protected as a National Historic Landmark. They serve as both a work of folk art and a symbol of determination, reminding us that creativity can thrive even in unlikely places.

5. Cabazon Dinosaurs (Cabazon, near Palm Springs)

Nothing prepares you for the first glimpse of the Cabazon Dinosaurs looming over the desert. Dinny the Dinosaur and Mr. Rex, built in the 1960s, started as quirky lures for a roadside restaurant but have become iconic symbols of California’s love for the unusual. These towering reptiles have starred in movies and welcomed decades of curious travelers.

Kids often run toward the statues, dwarfed by their size and wide, fixed grins. Inside Mr. Rex, you can even climb up into the head and peer out at the sunbaked landscape, a view that’s as odd as the dinosaurs themselves.

Over the years, new attractions have appeared nearby, but the original dinosaurs remain the biggest draw. For me, they sum up the playful side of road trips, a reminder that sometimes it’s okay to stop for no other reason than to marvel at something strange along the way.

6. Sunken City Ruins (San Pedro)

On the edge of San Pedro, the ruins of Sunken City tell a story few know well. In 1929, a chunk of neighborhood slid toward the Pacific, leaving behind broken streets and tilted foundations. Today, graffiti artists and urban explorers wander among the remnants, turning the site into both a living art gallery and a monument to nature’s unpredictability.

Pieces of sidewalk dangle over cliffs, streetcar rails curl in odd directions, and the whole place feels suspended between eras. Locals debate whether it’s a park, a hazard, or an unofficial landmark, perhaps it’s a bit of all three.

Though technically closed to the public, people still find ways in, drawn by curiosity and the allure of the forbidden. Sunken City isn’t just about collapse; it’s about how communities reinvent spaces that history almost forgot.