Hi and welcome to California, the awesomest state...
California was first settled by humans during the last ice age 10,000 years ago. The California Indians lived a mostly peaceful lifestyle (due to the abundance of resources) for millenia until the arrival of Europeans. The Spaniard Joao Rodriguez was the first European to explore Alta California, or upper California, in 1543. Sir Francis Drake sailed to Northern California in 1579, claiming it for Britain. By the 1600s, Alta and Baja California were effectively part of the Spanish Empire. The Spanish built Missions, church complexes with land worked by natives, throughout California. Beginning in San Diego in 1769, and a days ride apart, the Missions eventually stretched all the way to San Francisco. Russians Colonized the North Coast but were driven from their claim. In 1846, Americans and Canadians living in California revolted against Spanish rule. California became an indepenant country, the Bear Flag Republic. After the Mexican-American War, California was annexed by the United States. In 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill. This sparked the great 1849 Gold Rush. On Spetember 9, 1850, California was admitted to the Union as a free state. Travel to the new state was made easier in 1869 with the completion of the Trans-Continental Railroad. In later years, the main way to California became Route 66.
