1. In 1782, the first Catholic mission in California, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, was founded by Father Junipero Serra. The mission was built to serve the Native American Chumash people and was named after Saint Louis, the Bishop of Toulouse.

2. In 1887, the San Francisco Examiner published its first edition. The newspaper was owned by William Randolph Hearst and went on to become one of the most influential newspapers in the country.

3. In 1939, the Golden Gate International Exposition closed in San Francisco. The exposition was held on Treasure Island and celebrated the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge. Over 18 million people attended the six-month-long event.

4. In 1967, the first giant panda arrived in the United States at the San Francisco Zoo. The panda, named Su-Lin, was given to the zoo as a gift from China.

5. In 1997, California Governor Pete Wilson signed a law allowing medical marijuana use for patients with chronic illness. California became the first state in the country to legalize medical marijuana, leading the way for other states to follow suit.