Old buildings in our midst call to the imagination, evoking a time just out of reach. Each structure in Here Tomorrow holds a story of California’s rich past in its wainscoting, adobe brick, or Art Deco chandelier. The Temple of Kwan Tai on the fog-wreathed Mendocino coast contains the history of a once-vibrant seaside Chinatown. A garden of honeysuckle, roses, and tulips once tended by prisoners flourishes on the dry and windy island of Alcatraz. Colorful mosaics, glasswork zodiacs, and historic murals grace the walls of the Los Angeles Public Library, a structure conceived as a great melding of cultures and lore that reflect the diverse spirit of California.

Such structures represent a significant cultural legacy, and as they deteriorate with age and the world around them changes, they also represent a significant economic and cultural challenge. For thirty years, the California Preservation Foundation has bestowed design awards on those who have excelled in restoration and creative reuse. From these awards, fifty sites were selected that best represent the multifaceted and complex art of restoration. They represent California in all its variety, its culture and commerce, geography, history, and creative style.