1. The California Missions were established on February 14, 1776, when Father Francisco Palóu founded the San Francisco de Asís Mission, which is now known as the Mission Dolores. This marked the beginning of a series of 21 missions established by the Spanish in California.

2. On February 14, 1859, Oregon was granted statehood, which was significant for California because it resolved a long-standing border dispute between the two states. The boundary was set at the 42nd parallel, which is still the current border between California and Oregon.

3. The first gold discovery in California happened on February 14, 1848, when James W. Marshall discovered gold in the American River at Sutter's Mill. This discovery launched the California Gold Rush, which attracted thousands of prospectors to the region.

4. On February 14, 1920, the League of Women Voters was founded in San Francisco. This organization has been instrumental in promoting voter education and advocacy for women's rights over the past century.

5. In a more recent event, on February 14, 2018, a gunman killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. This tragic event sparked a nationwide movement for gun control and school safety, including protests and student walkouts in California and across the country.