Minerva Hoyt loved the Mojave Desert. She loved the jackrabbits, the coyotes, the prickly cacti, and especially the weird, spiky Joshua trees. But in the 1920s, most visitors to the desert felt it was a wasteland, a place they could damage or destroy. Minerva was determined to change that. And she had a wild idea--build displays to show people across America the Mojave's beauty. Minerva even later convinced President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the...

"San Francisco is home to more than 200 privately owned streets. Most are alleyways, but a select few look torn straight from the pages of a magazine. Lined with mansions and elaborate gardens, the properties are luxurious and perfectly maintained; security guards patrol the grounds to keep the curious at bay. Few know of these exclusive enclaves, but those who do prowl for availability, ready to make a grab for the precious real estate if opportunity...