1. On February 11, 1850, the city of San Francisco was granted its official charter as a city by the State of California, marking the beginning of its modern era as a vibrant, metropolitan hub.

2. In 1929, the California State Capitol building in Sacramento was severely damaged by a massive earthquake that struck the region on February 11. The destruction prompted a massive rebuilding effort that transformed the capitol into the grand, iconic building that it is today.

3. On February 11, 1964, the Beatles played their first live concert in the United States at the Coliseum in San Francisco, beginning their historic and influential tour of America's cities and towns.

4. In 1847, the famous American frontiersman John C. Frémont was appointed military governor of California by the U.S. Army, setting the stage for the eventual statehood of California in 1850.

5. On February 11, 1978, the first-ever issue of the San Francisco Bay Guardian newspaper was published, providing a vital source of progressive news, activism, and community engagement for the Bay Area for over four decades.