1. California recognizes May 22 as Harvey Milk Day in honor of the state's first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, who served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in the 1970s. Milk was assassinated on November 27, 1978, but his legacy lives on as a pioneer for LGBTQ+ rights.

2. On May 22, 1856, the first recorded gold discovery in Mono County, California, was made by a group of prospectors known as the Bennett Brothers. The discovery led to a gold rush in the area, and the town of Bodie was established as one of the state's most prosperous mining communities.

3. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, opened to the public on May 22, 1937. At the time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, spanning 1.7 miles across the Golden Gate Strait. Today, it remains an iconic symbol of California and a popular tourist destination.

4. May 22, 1906, marked the first flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft in the state of California. Piloted by Samuel P. Langley, an aviation pioneer, the flight took place at the Shoestring Ranch near San Jose and lasted for about 3/4 of a mile.

5. In 1960, the second largest earthquake ever recorded in California history, with a magnitude of 5.7, struck near the town of Arvin in Kern County. The earthquake caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure in the area, but no fatalities were reported. The event served as a reminder of the state's vulnerability to seismic activity.