1. In 1846, the Bear Flag Revolt ended with the U.S. flag being raised at Sonoma Plaza in California. This marked the beginning of the Mexican-American War.

2. August 11, 1919, marked the day that the first commercial transcontinental air race began in California. Pilots flew from New York to San Francisco in planes made of wood and fabric.

3. The infamous Watts riots began on August 11, 1965, in the South Central neighborhood of Los Angeles. The six-day rebellion, which was sparked by an altercation between police and a black motorist, left 34 people dead and over 1,000 injured.

4. August 11, 1984, saw the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, which were considered to be one of the most successful Olympic Games in history. The U.S. won a total of 174 medals, including 83 golds.

5. On August 11, 2008, Proposition 8, a ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriage in California, was certified by the Secretary of State. The measure was later overturned by a federal court, but the issue would continue to be contested for years to follow.