1. In 1857, a major earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area on May 26. It was estimated to have a magnitude of 7.9 and caused significant damage to the city, including collapsing buildings and starting fires.

2. On May 26, 1959, the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge opened to the public. At the time, it was the longest bridge in the world spanning over continuous water.

3. In 1978, Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California, was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone on May 26 by former Supervisor Dan White. The tragedy led to a significant shift in LGBTQ+ rights activism and political representation.

4. The Golden Gate Bridge celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 26, 1987. To honor the occasion, the bridge was closed to vehicle traffic and pedestrians were allowed to walk across for free.

5. On May 26, 2015, the state of California experienced a severe drought, which had been ongoing for four years. Governor Jerry Brown declared a State of Emergency due to the critical water shortages and urged residents to conserve water.