“There’s only the American Dream and the California dream.”
—Gov. Gavin Newsom
CAL@170 is a collection of 170 stories celebrating California’s 170 years of statehood. The aim is to offer examples of California’s unique character and that of its residents, past and present. That means among the good there will be some bad. For every success story, there’s a failure, a tragedy, an injustice. It’s from these mistakes that we learn and grow stronger together. Share a story with us that helps define what California means to you.
Built to resemble a mission, the first – and only -- Milestone Mo-tel in San Luis Obispo is a new…
Engelbart's prototype of a computer mouse, as designed by Bill English from Engelbart's sketches. Image Courtesy:…
On November 27, 1978, angered that he wasn’t to be reappointed to the Board of Supervisors slot he resigned from…
Ten months before California becomes a state, voters overwhelmingly approve a constitution and elect a Legislature and a governor. There…
March Fong, California Historical Society On November 8, 1966, future President Ronald Reagan, a Republican, wins his first bid for…
George Pardee [2006-0107] California State Library In November 1903, Gov. George Pardee and his family move into the Governor’s Mansion at 16th and…
Arrival of Owens River water Nov. 5 1913 [2009-0782], California State Library On November 5, 1913, an estimated 30,000 Angelinos…
John and Annie Bidwell, Chico. [2007-0017], California State Library A group of 70 men, women and children in 15 wagons…
John Steinbeck’s "realistic and imaginative writing, combining as it does sympathetic humor and keen social perception” earns the Salinas native…
Chinese Quarter, Los Angeles [2003-0283], California State Library One the ugliest and most violent attacks on any group of people…