1. In 1769, Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolá led the first European expedition into present-day California, reaching the Pacific Ocean near what is now San Diego on March 14 of that year.

2. On March 14, 1879, the pioneering agricultural scientist Luther Burbank was granted the first of many patents for his plant-breeding techniques. Burbank was based in Santa Rosa, California, where he developed hundreds of new plant varieties including the Shasta daisy and the Russet potato.

3. In 1933, a massive earthquake struck Long Beach, California, causing widespread damage and killing 115 people. The earthquake occurred on March 10, but the recovery and reconstruction efforts continued through March 14 and beyond.

4. On March 14, 1942, thousands of Japanese Americans living in California were rounded up and forcibly removed from their homes and communities, under orders from the US government following the attack on Pearl Harbor. These individuals were interned in camps throughout the western US for the duration of World War II.

5. In 1956, the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco were connected by the newly-constructed 101 Freeway, which officially opened on March 14 of that year. The highway is now one of the busiest in the state, connecting major cities and tourist destinations along the coast.