“There’s only the American Dream and the California dream.”
—Gov. Gavin Newsom
This year marks the 175th anniversary of California’s admission to the U.S. as the 31st state. But statehood wasn’t the beginning of the story. Celebrating California is a collection of 175 stories that highlight California’s unique history and role in the world. The goal is to offer examples of California’s unique character and that of its residents, past and present. That means among the good there will be some bad. For every success story, there’s a failure, a tragedy, an injustice. It’s from these mistakes that we learn and grow stronger together. Share a story with us that helps define what California means to you.
The day after Christmas, 1958, author, actor, recording artist, comedian and puppeteer Stan Freberg donates $1,000 in royalties from "Green…
On the evening of February 24, 1942, an anti-aircraft barrage of more than 1,440 rounds is launched at what is…
Lt. Gov. Romualdo Pacheco becomes the first – and so far only – Latino or Hispanic to hold the state's…
On February 25, 1854, Gov. John Bigler ends California’s five-year game of musical capitals by signing legislation making Sacramento California’s permanent…
Brothers Walter Elias Disney and Roy Oliver Disney found Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio on October 16, 1923. The studio is…
On February 10, 1863, state lawmakers choose Assemblyman John Conness, a strong opponent of slavery, as California’s U.S. Senator, succeeding…
On February 17, 1925 Florence Prag Kahn wins a special election to fill the San Francisco congressional seat previously held…
Mayor Gavin Newsom marries Erin Carder (left) and Kerri McCoy at City Hall in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, October…
Near Copperopolis in Calaveras County, Wells Fargo’s poetry-writing nemesis “Black…