SeeCalifornia.com

Great California cities that have devoted themselves to saving their historic buildings have provided enjoyment for those who live in these classic timepieces, and a visual highlight for tourists or commuters passing by. Most buildings have stories to tell–if only you can find them! Sometimes they are buried beneath the walls only to be discovered decades later! Shown in the photos is Villa Riviera, a majestic 1929 Tudor Gothic in Long Beach that once served as an ocean view hotel, now converted to condominiums. When the building was renovated and exterior gargoyles restored to mint condition several years ago, behind a wall in one condo some interesting items such as prohibition-era liquor were uncovered. And they say those walls can’t talk! Villa Riviera is one of more than 100 landmarks in Long Beach, where rules and regulations precisely govern the maintenance of historic properties  that provide a visual history of California’s 6th largest city.

On August 31-Sept. 1, 2012 the annual Art Deco festival on the Queen Mary (queenmary.com) ship celebrates local architecture and history with lectures, dances, and a walking tour of downtown Long Beach led by John Thomas, co-author of Long Beach Art Deco. For reservations see the website or call (562) 499-1771. Space is limited.

San Francisco, Eureka, Ferndale, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Vallejo, Alameda, Sacramento, San Diego, and Long Beach are a few of the cities where you’ll find rare gems of architectural interest. You can even participate in architectural lectures and walking tours in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento (great underground tour!)  and Old West towns such as Auburn and Columbia State Historic Park, where buildings were constructed during the mid-19th century Gold Rush era.