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The Golden State

California is more than a place. It’s a spirit of creativity, resilience, and endless horizons.

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Spirit of California Museum

We preserve the stories that shaped California and inspire the generations to come.

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This Week in California History

Each week we look back at the people, events, and milestones that shaped the Golden State. From turning points that changed the nation to quiet moments of local significance, these stories remind us how California’s past continues to shape its present and future.

California Admission Day: Celebrating 175 Years of Statehood

This week marks a milestone in California’s history—175 years since California officially joined the United States. On September 9, 1850, California was admitted as the 31st state of the Union. Known as Admission Day, this anniversary is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a celebration of California’s unique journey from frontier territory to one of the most influential states in the nation, and the world.

California Dreamers

Honoring the Lives and Legacies That Shaped the Golden State

Yosemite National Park

There are places in California that feel older than memory itself. Granite cliffs rising like cathedrals, waterfalls that plunge with the sound of thunder, valleys carved by ancient ice. Among them all, Yosemite National Park stands as both a natural wonder and a testament to the generations who fought to keep it safe. It is not just a treasure of California, but of the entire world.

California Treasures

Stories of California’s Parks, Monuments, and Living Heritage

Yosemite National Park

There are places in California that feel older than memory itself. Granite cliffs rising like cathedrals, waterfalls that plunge with the sound of thunder, valleys carved by ancient ice. Among them all, Yosemite National Park stands as both a natural wonder and a testament to the generations who fought to keep it safe. It is not just a treasure of California, but of the entire world.