1. The Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1879: On December 26th, 1879, a powerful earthquake struck San Francisco. Although the earthquake caused significant damage to the city, it was not nearly as devastating as the earthquake that would hit the area in 1906.

2. The Naming of San Francisco: On December 26th, 1776, Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and his expedition arrived at a bay that he named San Francisco. The city would eventually be named after the bay.

3. The Death of Charles Schulz: On December 26th, 2000, the creator of the beloved comic strip Peanuts, Charles Schulz, died in his Santa Rosa home. Schulz had lived and worked in California for most of his life and had a significant impact on the state's culture.

4. The Completion of the Hoover Dam: On December 26th, 1935, the Hoover Dam was completed on the border of Arizona and Nevada. The dam was an engineering marvel and provided power and water to much of California.

5. The Birth of Jared Leto: On December 26th, 1971, actor and musician Jared Leto was born in Bossier City, Louisiana. Leto would go on to spend much of his career in California, both in film and music.