1. In 1846, the Bear Flag Revolt began in Sonoma, California. A group of American settlers declared California an independent republic from Mexico by raising a homemade flag featuring a grizzly bear and a red star. The revolt ultimately led to the United States’ annexation of California in 1848.

2. On June 23, 1917, the first ship from the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Company was launched in San Diego. This marked the beginning of San Diego’s shipbuilding industry, which played a crucial role during World War II.

3. In 1926, Harrison Ford, the renowned American actor, was born in Chicago, Illinois. Although he was not born in California, Ford has since become a notable figure in California history, as he has been a longtime resident of the state and has acted in numerous films that were set or produced in California.

4. On June 23, 1988, the Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park was dedicated in California. The park, located in Orange County, is named after a prominent local conservationist who fought to preserve the area’s natural landscapes.

5. In 2016, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2022. This was a significant milestone in California’s labor history, as the state became the first in the nation to commit to such a high minimum wage.