1. California - An Overview By Terrance Finley-Moore

3. He argued that California’s topography and climate nurture a “Higher Provincial” version of American civilization. This means that it promotes an independence of mind, individualism, and open simplicity of manner.

5. Many notable writers published books in San Francisco, including Francis Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, and John Muir.

6. Muir arrived in San Francisco in 1868, and established his legacy as a nature writer, documenting the Yosemite Valley, the mountains of California, and the glacial formations of Alaska.

7. Hubert Howe Bancroft founded a research library that went on to publish multivolume works documenting the history of the Pacific Coast.

9. In Southern California, citrus, vineyards, and other specialty crops were grown. These were grown by educated, middle class, intensive farmers who made their living on forty acres.

10. The introduction of refrigerated rail cars meant that California could quickly send their goods to Eastern markets within a week by the 1890s.

11. At the turn of the twentieth century citrus groves were the major crop of southern California.

13. California required a highly sophisticated statewide water system in order for it to become inhabitable and productive. In 1878 the Drainage Act was passed. This was an important event in California history, because it created the public utilities that California required to become the biggest and the greatest economic state.

14. William Hammond Hall was responsible for all of the studies that laid out a comprehensive program for the development of California through water projects.

16. The Central Valley Project organized four large reservoirs into a series of dams, reservoirs, canals, pumping stations, and power plants across California.

18. The Pelton turbine was developed from mining technology, and its design later inspired the turbines used in hydroelectric dams, which provided California with an industrial infrastructure.

19. Aviation technology was adopted and perfected in California.

20. By the 1930s California led the nation in atomic research by successfully smashing the atom. California was also leading the nation in biotechnology.

22. Californians had experimented with various forms of flight since the 1860s, and aviation went on to shape California over the next century.

23. The University of California opened in 1869. Its curriculum mainly focused on mining, geology, agriculture, and mechanical engineering. This was important because it helped guide California into an industrial economy.

24. Californian geologists spent up to four years in the wild, measuring heights and land formation. These geologists included Clarence King, William Henry Brewer, Lorenzo Yates.

26. Silicon Valley became the center of technological innovation, and it brought the world into a revolutionary new age of digital communication. Californian scientists had key roles in developing the Internet.

27. California has a large role in biotechnological research and manufacturing.