Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1846
Sierra Nevada blizzards strand the Donner Party of settlers, some of whom avoid starvation by
eating their dead companions. Five women and two men survive by snowshoeing 100 miles for
help.
1848
Gold is discovered near present-day Placerville by mill employees. San Francisco newspaper pub-
lisher, vigilante and bigmouth Sam Brannan lets the secret out, and the Gold Rush is on.
1850
With hopes of solid-gold tax revenues, the US declares California the 31st state. When miners find
tax loopholes, SoCal ranchers are left carrying the tax burden, creating early north−south rival-
ries.
1851
The discovery of gold in Australia means cheering in the streets of Melbourne and panic in the
streets of San Francisco, as the price for California gold plummets.
1869
On May 10, the 'golden spike' is nailed in place at Promontory, Utah, completing the first
transcontinental railroad, which connects California with the East Coast.
1882
The US Chinese Exclusion Act suspends new immigration from China, denies citizenship to those
already in the country and sanctions racially discriminatory laws that stay on the topics until
1943.
1906
An earthquake levels entire blocks of San Francisco in 42 seconds flat, setting off fires that rage
for three days. Survivors start rebuilding immediately.
