History

The land surface of California covers almost 100 million acres. It's the third largest of the states; only Alaska and Texas are larger.

Discovery of Gold

The discovery of gold in California was an epoch-making event. News of the discovery attracted to California hundreds of thousands of gold-seekers from across the country and around the world. Their coming transformed not only the economic history of California, but much of its social, cultural, and political history as well.

Transcontinental Railroad

The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 was a major event in California history. The iron horse linked California with the rest of the nation and ushered in an era of economic consolidation. The Californians who controlled this new technology became the wealthiest and most powerful men of their generation