Spiral Staircase
Scotty's Castle, Death Valley National Park
Construction began on Scotty's Castle in 1922 and cost between $1.5 and $2.5 million. Prospector, performer and con man Walter Scott also known as 'Death Valley Scotty', convinced Chicago millionaire Albert Johnson to invest in his gold mine in the Death Valley area. Though initially angered when the mine turned out to be fraudulent, Johnson was fascinated with the colourful Scott and the two men struck up an unlikely friendship.