When driving down the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), which hugs the dramatic California coastline from the redwood forests to the sun-drenched beaches of San Diego, one stop worth making is at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns Vista Point in Monterey County near Big Sur. Looking down, you will see a life-size, biologically correct, stone mosaic of the iconic California condor at your feet. A few steps away, there is another life-size replica of a 50-foot gray whale with her baby, also rendered in subtle shades of natural granite, inlaid into the pavement. As you keep driving down the PCH between Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara, you will be treated to seven different vista points, each with multiple interpretive stone displays to inform and inspire you about the wildlife, natural landmarks and history of the local area. How these beautiful interpretive displays of art and nature came about is a story of vision and teamwork that involved the California DOT (Caltrans), a California construction company called RSB Group, field biologists and a small but internationally renowned waterjet company based in Iowa called Creative Edge.

Creative Edge Master Shop became involved when RSB Group contracted them to create the design, artwork and installation for the interpretive stone mosaics of four different wild animals — a California condor, a gray whale, a sea otter and a California grizzly — in three different vista points along and near the PCH.