Sacramento, California

1848Gold Discovered at Sutter's Mill: James Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's sawmill in Coloma, 40 miles east of Sacramento. The discovery triggered the California Gold Rush, drawing 300,000 people westward and transforming Sacramento into a supply hub.

1863Transcontinental Railroad Begins: The Central Pacific Railroad broke ground in Sacramento, beginning the western half of the transcontinental railroad. Thousands of Chinese laborers built the line through the Sierra Nevada under brutal conditions.

1862Great Flood: Weeks of rain created a flood that submerged Sacramento under 10 feet of water. The governor traveled to his inauguration by rowboat. Sacramento responded by raising its entire downtown by one story.

1854Sacramento Becomes State Capital: After the state capital moved between several cities, Sacramento was chosen as the permanent capital of California, largely due to its location between the gold fields and the coast.

1935State Capitol Expansion: The California State Capitol was expanded and modernized, and Capitol Park was established as one of the largest urban parks in the state, cementing Sacramento's identity as the seat of government.

1850Sacramento Incorporated: Sacramento was one of the first cities incorporated in California, growing from a tent city serving Gold Rush miners into an organized municipality.

1856Pony Express Terminus: Sacramento served as the western terminus of the Pony Express, receiving mail carried by horseback from Missouri in just 10 days — a revolutionary achievement in communication.

1920Agricultural Processing Hub: Sacramento became a major center for canning, milling, and processing the agricultural bounty of the Central Valley, earning it the nickname 'Farm-to-Fork Capital.'.

1985Sacramento Kings Arrive: The NBA's Kansas City Kings relocated to Sacramento, bringing professional sports to the capital and eventually building a new downtown arena that catalyzed urban revitalization.

2018Stephon Clark Shooting: Sacramento police shot and killed Stephon Clark, an unarmed Black man, in his grandmother's backyard. The shooting sparked weeks of protests and national debate over police use of force.