Downey: I-5 : (577) Lakewood Blvd

Among the cities of California, Downey stands out for its place in Southern California’s aerospace story. Set in the Los Angeles Basin, the city lies between the Los Angeles River and the Rio Hondo, within the dense urban fabric southeast of downtown Los Angeles. North American Aviation and later Rockwell operated a major facility here, where work on the Apollo program made Downey an important address in the US space industry. That legacy is interpreted at the Columbia Memorial Space Center, named in memory of the Space Shuttle Columbia crew. On Lakewood Boulevard, the 1953 McDonald’s restaurant is widely recognized as the chain’s oldest surviving location. Continue with other webcams from the area to see how this part of Los Angeles County connects regionally.

California occupies a long Pacific coastal belt in the United States. Its terrain ranges from the Sierra Nevada and the fertile Central Valley to deserts in the southeast and the rugged shores of the Pacific Ocean. The state includes both Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States, and extensive protected lands such as Yosemite National Park. California’s cities have exerted worldwide influence through film, technology, agriculture, and music; Hollywood remains an enduring symbol of the American screen industry. Its scale means climates and local character can change dramatically from one county to the next. Continue through nearby webcams to explore different parts of California.

The Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts define much of the United States — their ports, fisheries and trade routes have long tied the country’s economy to the wider world. Between them, the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains and Mississippi River basin form sharply different regions, from high western ranges to broad agricultural heartlands. Cities carry much of the national story: New York’s Statue of Liberty, a gift from France dedicated in 1886, remains an enduring symbol, while Washington, DC concentrates major federal institutions. Indigenous nations have shaped these lands for millennia, and their living cultures remain essential to the country’s identity. Find related webcams in the surrounding areas to build a fuller picture of the United States.