California, 31st State
September 9, 1850
1579 • Francis Drake sailed along coast and claimed California for England
1848 • James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter’s Mill
1849 • The Gold Rush began. California became known as the Golden State. Its gold fields attracted thousands of miners, known as the “Forty-Niners”
1869 • The Central Pacific Railroad completed its line from California into Utah, meeting the Union Pacific in Promontory to form the nation’s first transcontinental railroad
1873 • First cable car street railway system was installed in San Francisco
Area: 158,648 sq. mi.
Popular Name: The Golden State
State Bird: California Valley Quail
State Flower: Golden Poppy
State Tree: Redwood
Capital: Sacramento
Marker can be reached from NW Railroad Street near NW Curtis Street, on the left when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
