They are buildings, cities and natural wonders. They house the heights of cultural achievement and offer backdrops for our best ideas. Asked to name the most influential place in history, previous and present TIME 100 honorees reflect on locations that have seen and in some cases helped bring about some of the most transformative moments in human experience.
Ebay's San Jose headquarters with a solar roof in the Silicon Valley, Calif.
The name is synonymous with innovation. Hard against the southern end of San Francisco Bay, Silicon Valley is the birthplace of Apple, Google and eBay, among other tech giants.
