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1769
The entrance to San Francisco Bay, La Boca del Puerto (mouth of the Port) is discovered on November 1 by Sergeant Jose Ortega.
San Diego De Alcala, the first of 21 missions established by Franciscan padres under the leadership of Father Junipero Serra, was founded.
The missions extend along a 650-mile trail, the El Camino Real, from San Diego to Sonoma.
Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola (1723-86) led expedition from Mexico to establish settlements in Alta California; he arrived in San Diego June 29.
On July 14, Portola's party discovered Monterey Bay and on November 2, San Francisco Bay.
As commander, Portola served as Alta California's governor from March 1769 to July 1770.

1776
The first colonizing party arrived to found the Presidio of San Francisco and Mission Dolores.
(La Misión de San Francisco de Asis (Mission Dolores) are now Registered Landmark of the City and County of San Francisco.)
The Mission Church is the oldest intact building in San Francisco, and one of the oldest Mission Churches in California.
The first mass celebrated at the Mission was on June 29, 1776.
Mission Dolores was the sixth of 21 missions established by the Franciscans. Mission Dolores established.

1800's
The trans-continental railroad system was established.
The system included tracks throughout California's Sierra Nevada region as well as connecting New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Mexico, Utah,
and Nevada for mining and travel opportunities.

1812
Russian fur traders established Fort Ross, north of San Francisco

1820
Ships from Boston began to visit the Spanish towns and Missions along the upper and lower California coast.
They came first to barter for both otter and beaver pelts and then later for tallow, hides, and materials used by the natives and settlers.
American trappers and hunters began to drift into the State from the East.
Early pioneers of the West were sometimes harshly treated by the earlier Spanish governors; but later they were welcomed.

1821
Mexico wins its independence from Spain, becoming California's new ruler.
The Russian trading post, Fort Ross, was completed near Bodega Bay,
enabling the Russians to further explore the northern California coast as they continued hunting for fur seals and sea otters.

1826
Father Jose Altimira, who was sent from Spain in 1819, engaged in flogging and imprisonment of the Native Americans at the Mission San Francisco Solano.
It was his efforts to "civilize" them which soon caused a revolt.
Group of angry Native Americans attacked the mission in 1826. After looting and burning buildings and supplies, they forced Father Altimira to flee to Mission San Rafael.
Other trappers made the first U.S. overland trip to the area.

1846
The United States invades Mexico from the east, reaching San Diego in December.
July 31, 1846, a weary company of about 220 Latter-day Saints passed through the rocky portals of the Golden Gate.
July 9, 1846 Commander J. B. Montgomery raised the American Frag

1848
Gold was discovered gold at Sutter's sawmill in Coloma in January 1848, along the south fork of the American River, thus kicking off the famous Gold Rush of 1849.
That is where the term "49ers" was coined.
California became a U.S. holding with the Treaty of Guadalupe, which ended the Mexican War.

1850
California was admitted into the Union as the 31st state on September 9, 1850.

1856
June 11, 1856, that the City and County of San Francisco was formed,
and a new county called "San Mateo" was created out of the remainder of the old County of San Francisco.

1858
Sutro & Company- Founded in San Francisco.
This company is the oldest investment banking firm in San Francisco.

1860
California's famous mail courier service, the Pony Express, followed a route which began in Missouri and ended in Sacramento, California.
The "Pioche Railroad" was started.

1861
Fort Point completed. Built to protect San Francisco from some one who never came.
The fort was never fired on nor did it ever have to defend the Gate.

1869
September
The first westbound train arrives in San Francisco.

1898
Ferry Building built. Ferry transit has played a significant role in San Francisco Bay for almost 150 years.
Vessels which brought people during gold rush days were utilized for San Francisco-Sacramento and cross-bay service.