1. On February 12, 1880, the Southern Pacific Railroad Company completed its first train trip between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The journey took a total of 33 hours, and it revolutionized transportation in California.

2. In 1866, on February 12, the nation's first Chinese daily newspaper, the Chinese Real Estate Association, was founded in San Francisco. It played a significant role in promoting Chinese-American civil rights in California.

3. On February 12, 1915, the cornerstone for the San Francisco Civic Center was laid. The Civic Center is a monumental public space in the heart of the city that includes government buildings, plazas, and cultural facilities.

4. California's famous Giant Sequoia trees were introduced to the world on February 12, 1853. The trees were discovered by a gold prospector named Augustus T. Dowd, who stumbled upon them in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

5. In 2012, February 12 marked the first official Celebration of Black History Month in California. Governor Jerry Brown signed a proclamation officially recognizing the contributions of African Americans to the state's history and culture.