Top 11 Architecture Sights: Los Angeles and Southern California

Elisha Babcock and H.L. Story wanted to build a seaside resort that would be "the talk of the Western world." They may have succeeded.

See It: The public areas are open to anyone

Designed by architect Julia Morgan for newspaperman William Randolph Hearst, it houses an impressive collection of art and artifacts and is all the more impressive considering how hard it was to get materials to the remote site.

See It: The "castle" and its surrounding buildings are a state park and they offer tours daily.

Designed by architect Philip Johnson, some call it "religious reinterpretation of the crystal palace."

See It: Guided tours are given Monday through Saturday

A fine example of American Arts and Crafts style architecture, Gamble House was designed in 1908 by Charles and Henry Greene for David and Mary Gamble (Procter and Gamble).

See It: Tours are given Thursday-Sunday

Partly designed by John and Donald B. Parkinson, it was the last great railway station to be built and not the grandest, but it's been in so many films that we all recognize it when we see it.

See It: Open any time. Los Angeles Conservancy offers guided tours once a month.

Originally a temporary structure designed by Lloyd Wright, the nested quarter-spheres form a fitting backdrop for the caliber of artists who perform on its stage.

See It: The best way is to attend a concert.

Designed by architect Richard Meier, this complex occupies an entire hilltop just off fabled Sunset Blvd. We think it's one of the greatest outdoor spaces in Southern California, with the architecture eclipsing the collection it houses.

See It: Closed Mondays and some holidays. Special architecture tours given daily.

Funded by the Disney family to honor Walt Disney and designed by architect Frank Gehry, it's one of the most dramatic sights in downtown Los Angeles. Sinuous shapes in shiny metal lend themselves to interpretations ranging from blooming flower to sailing ship, but ultimately, it's up to the viewer.

See It: Go for a performance, take a complimentary audio or a guided tour, offered most days, unless there's a matinee performance

One of Frank Lloyd Wright's most important designs, it's built of textile blocks in the style of a Mayan temple.

See It: Public tours given Wednesday through Sunday, but closed on all major holidays.

Designed by Pierre Koenig, it's often called Case Study House #22. Its minimalist style and linear design elements connect with the grid of Los Angeles streets which can be seen from the windows.

See It: It's a private residence and not easy to see from the street.