California is known for its beautiful beaches, Hollywood glamour, and endless sunshine, but there's more to the Golden State than meets the eye. In fact, California is home to some of the strangest and most unique facts you'll ever come across.
In this blog, we'll take a closer look at some of the most bizarre California facts that you probably didn't know. Whether you're a native Californian or just passing through, get ready to be amazed by the bizarre and fascinating things that make California truly one-of-a-kind.
1. The world's largest thermometer is located in Baker, California. It stands at 134 feet tall and is a popular roadside attraction.
2. San Francisco's Lombard Street, known as the "crookedest street in the world," is actually not the crookedest street in San Francisco. That title goes to Vermont Street.
3. In 1850, California became the 31st state in the United States, and it remains the only state to have been ruled by three different countries: Spain, Mexico, and the United States.
4. The Hollywood sign originally read "Hollywoodland" when it was built in 1923 as an advertisement for a real estate development.
5. The world's largest tree by volume, the General Sherman Tree, is located in Sequoia National Park in California.
6. The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose has over 160 rooms, including 40 bedrooms, 2 ballrooms, and 47 fireplaces. It was built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of the inventor of the Winchester rifle, and was designed to confuse and trap spirits.
7. The San Andreas Fault, which runs through California, is responsible for many of the state's earthquakes. It is over 800 miles long and up to 10 miles deep in some places.
8. The Salton Sea, located in Southern California, was accidentally created in 1905 when the Colorado River flooded and diverted into a desert basin.
9. The official state animal of California is the California grizzly bear, even though the species has been extinct in California since 1924.
10. The California State Capitol building in Sacramento is home to a secret underground room known as the "crypt." It was originally used as a storage area for the state treasury, but is now used for special events and tours.
Check out more interesting California facts here.