1. San Francisco had one of the worst earthquakes in the world in 1906.  It destroyed about 2,800 buildings and killed at least 3,000 people.

2. The Central Pacific Railroad was the first railroad to cross the Sierra Mountains.  It began in 1863 and ended in 1869.

3. The gold rush in 1849 was in California.  It began after James W. Marshall found gold at Sutter's Mill.
 

 Yosemite National Park is an amazing place to visit in California. There are waterfalls and large rocks that are even bigger than some glaciers! It is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Joshua Tree National Park is another wonderful place to visit. There are trees that rise all the way up to 50 feet! The park's animal life include foxes, deer, rattlesnakes, cougars, and many other animals.