1. In 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico, which eventually led to the annexation of California. This conflict became known as the Mexican-American War.

2. In 1907, engineer and inventor Charles Kenneth Sumner patented the first automatic transmission for cars. This invention revolutionized the automobile industry and changed the way people drove their cars.

3. In 1928, Mickey Mouse made his first appearance in a cartoon short called "Plane Crazy". This eventually led to the creation of one of the world's most iconic cartoon characters, and established Walt Disney as a major force in the entertainment industry.

4. In 1973, the California State Assembly became the first legislative body in the United States to be controlled by a gay man. Democrat Willie Brown, who later became the mayor of San Francisco, was elected as Speaker of the Assembly.

5. In 2008, the California Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples had the right to marry, making California the second state in the US (after Massachusetts) to legalize same-sex marriage. This landmark decision paved the way for marriage equality across the country.