1. In 1869, the Sacramento Daily Union reported that a massive fire had engulfed the town of Marysville. The blaze broke out on July 26 and quickly spread, destroying much of the town. Despite the efforts of firefighters and volunteers, the fire raged for several days before finally being brought under control.

2. On July 27, 1871, the first telegraph line connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles was completed. The line was 624 miles long and used Morse code to transmit messages. The telegraph line revolutionized communication in California, allowing news to travel quickly between the state's two largest cities.

3. In 1915, the SS Eastland, a passenger ship that was docked in Chicago, rolled over in the Chicago River, killing over 800 people. Among the victims were 22 employees of the Western Electric Company who were on a company outing. Many of these employees were from California and news of the disaster was received with shock and sadness across the state.

4. On July 27, 1984, the opening ceremony of the XXIII Olympiad was held in Los Angeles. The games were a huge success, with the US winning 174 medals, including 83 golds. These games are often remembered for the performances of athletes such as Carl Lewis, Mary Lou Retton, and the US men's basketball team, which included future NBA stars like Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing.

5. In 2003, the Cedar Fire broke out in San Diego County, becoming one of the largest and deadliest wildfires in California history. The fire burned over 280,000 acres and destroyed over 2,200 homes, killing 15 people and injuring more than 100. The fire's cause was determined to be a lost hunting signal fire set on government-owned land.