1. Alcatraz Island was officially designated as a prison on January 31st, 1934. Known as "The Rock," Alcatraz was a maximum-security federal penitentiary that housed famous criminals such as Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly.

2. On January 31st, 1848, gold was discovered in California. The discovery set off the California Gold Rush, which attracted thousands of prospectors looking to strike it rich.

3. In 1865, the 13th Amendment was ratified by California, officially abolishing slavery in the United States. This historic moment marked a major milestone in the fight for Civil Rights in America.

4. On January 31st, 1995, the San Francisco 49ers won the Super Bowl XXIX, defeating the San Diego Chargers 49-26. The victory marked the 49ers' fifth Super Bowl championship.

5. The first Disneyland ticket went on sale on January 31st, 1955, marking the beginning of the "Happiest Place on Earth." Disneyland opened to the public on July 17th of that year, and has since become a beloved California institution.