1. The first recorded earthquake in California history occurred on May 11, 1790, in the vicinity of the San Andreas Fault. The quake was estimated to be around magnitude 6.0 and caused significant damage to local Native American settlements.

2. On May 11, 1851, the city of San Francisco outlawed gambling, which had been a popular pastime among miners during the Gold Rush. The law was not strictly enforced, however, and illegal gambling continued to thrive in the city.

3. The University of California, Berkeley, was founded on May 11, 1868, as the result of a merger between the private College of California and the public Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College. UC Berkeley is now a world-renowned research university and a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

4. A major wildfire broke out near Santa Barbara on May 11, 1956, that burned over 16,000 acres and destroyed dozens of homes. The fire was one of many that swept across California that year during a particularly dry and hot summer.

5. On May 11, 1998, comedian Phil Hartman, best known for his work on Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, was murdered by his wife in their home in Encino. Hartman's death shocked and saddened fans around the world, and he is remembered as one of the funniest and most talented performers of his generation.