1) In 1776, Juan Bautista de Anza, a Spanish explorer, led the first group of settlers to California. They arrived in San Francisco on October 26th, marking the beginning of the colonization of the region.

2) In 1881, the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral took place in Tombstone, Arizona. One of the participants in the shootout, Wyatt Earp, would later move to Los Angeles and become a deputy sheriff.

3) On October 26, 1947, the famous Hollywood Ten were called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. These writers and directors, many of whom were accused of being communists, refused to answer questions and were subsequently blacklisted from the industry.

4) In 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed the Indian Child Welfare Act into law, which aimed to protect the rights and interests of Native American children and families.

5) On October 26, 2002, a devastating wildfire broke out in San Diego County, causing major destruction and evacuations in the area. The fire burned over 160,000 acres and destroyed over 2,200 homes and buildings.