* 1850: California is admitted to the Union as the 31st state.
* 1869: The First Transcontinental Railroad is completed, linking California to the rest of the United States.
* 1906: The San Francisco Earthquake and Fire destroys much of the city.
* 1913: The Panama Canal opens, making it easier for ships to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and boosting California's economy.
* 1937: The Golden Gate Bridge opens, connecting San Francisco to Marin County.
* 1941: The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, leading to the United States' entry into World War II. California becomes a major center of military production during the war.
* 1960s: The Civil Rights Movement and the counterculture movement have a major impact on California.
* 1970s: The state's population booms as people move to California from other parts of the United States and the world.
* 1980s: The state's economy is hit hard by the recession, but it recovers in the 1990s.
* 2000s: California is hit by a series of natural disasters, including the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the 2003 San Diego wildfires, and the 2018 Camp Fire.
* 2010s: California becomes a leader in the fight against climate change. The state also legalizes same-sex marriage and recreational marijuana use.