Eureka! The Golden State’s 175th anniversary is here
Let’s set the scene on September 9, 1850.
Stretching 760 miles, the population of California had boomed since the discovery of gold two years earlier. Joining the Indigenous Peoples who had lived there for centuries, hopeful miners and their families flocked to the territory. From across the globe, people were making their way to the California territory, eager for a fresh start. The melting pot that would become the West Coast was growing.
Meanwhile on the East Coast, something momentous was taking place. More than 2,000 miles away in Washington D.C., President Millard Fillmore was signing the document that would grant California statehood. Admitted into an expanding nation, California had officially become the 31st state.
Fast forward 175 years. Staying true to its historic roots, today California is a cultural hub.
Famous People…
Home to actors and musicians in Los Angeles, tech gurus in Silicon Valley and almond farmers across the state, the Golden State has become known for its golden opportunities.
A World War II veteran, Richard Nixon was born and raised in Yorba Linda. The only president to call California home, the nation’s 37th president was elected in 1968. While in office, President Nixon: welcomed the Apollo 11 astronauts back to earth, created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and signed Title IX, an education amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 authored by U.S. Representative Patsy Takemoto Mink.
Leading the way for Chinese American actors, Anna May Wong burst onto the movie screen in the early 1920s. As a young girl growing up in Los Angeles, she was intrigued by the theatrical arts and began to eagerly seek out movie sets. By the time she was seventeen, Anna May had landed a leading role in The Toll of the Sea. The granddaughter of Chinese immigrants during the state’s gold rush in 1850, Anna May would appear in more than 60 films over the course of her dazzling career.
A San Francisco Bay Area native, Steve Jobs changed the face of the computer industry. Using his parent’s garage, Jobs co-founded Apple Computer Inc. at just 21 years old. Created fifty years ago in 1975, today over 160,000 people work for the company making it one of the largest tech companies in the world. Joining the ranks of other notable Americans like engineer Raye Montague and agricultural scientist Dr. George Washington Carver, in 2026, Jobs will take his place on California’s Innovation dollar. Scheduled to be the third release in next year’s dollar line up, make sure to watch our release schedule to keep your collection up to date.
…Places…
Whether you enjoy a walk in the woods, trekking mountain tops or visiting the beach, California statehood means that this is the perfect place for any nature lover. As the home of nine of the country’s national parks, there’s something for everyone.
A popular tourist destination, the Redwood Forest is in the northwest corner of California. Taking the title of “the tallest tree on earth,” the Coast Redwood Tree can actually reach 300 (or more) feet. In fact, because of their height, the branches of these trees – also known as the “canopy” – actually form their own ecosystems! Scientists have found that while creatures like the wandering salamander call the canopy home, other trees also thrive here as well. Make sure to look up (and up and up…) when you visit and see if you can spot these unique ecosystems.
Known for its staggering views and majestic wildlife, Yosemite National Park is one of the country’s most well-known national parks. Formed from glaciers millions of years ago, Yosemite’s history as a national park is a bit more recent. Established as the country’s third national park in 1890, Yosemite is a nature lover’s (and animal’s) paradise. Today, the park acts as a refuge for hundreds of animals including the state bird, the Valley Quail. An adaptable bird with a unique call, the next time you’re hiking the more than 800 trails the park has to offer, make sure to listen closely and you just might hear it!
The Channel Islands, which are off the California coast between Santa Barbara and Malibu, boast a plethora of wildlife. Similar to South America’s Galapagos Islands, this national park is a sanctuary for animals that exist nowhere else on the planet. Accessible only by boat or plane, you can visit five of the eight islands and see what life was like for the people (and creatures) that lived there thousands of years ago. If you’re lucky, you could see California Sea Lions or even some Humpback Whales.
…And Things!
Look in the dictionary and you might find that California statehood is synonymous with world-renowned studios (hello Walt Disney!)… groundbreaking inventions… and all sorts of delicious food. That’s right, there’s no shortage of wonderful things making their way out of this West Coast state.
Take, for instance, the gold rush! While not the country’s first (that honor belongs to North Carolina!), the Golden State’s gold rush is undoubtedly the most famous. Discovered at Sutter’s Mill in late January 1848, word of the yellow mineral spread like wildfire. By the summer of that year, people from countries like China, Peru and Chile had flocked to California eager to make their fortune. The Golden State had so much gold that by the end of 1849, $10 million had been mined. And over the following three years, more than $195 million would be unearthed!
And we can’t talk about California without talking about a certain mint. Authorized because of the state’s gold rush, in 1854, the San Francisco Mint opened its doors. As the journey to the Philadelphia Mint could take months and was often unsafe, the government needed to act and so the mint in San Francisco was born. Today this branch not only produces billions of coins every year, it’s also known for some of the country’s finest coins. From beautiful silver Proof Sets to commemorative coins and everything in between, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
175 years looks good on you!
It’s hard to imagine the good old U.S.A. without the 31st state, but one thing’s for sure – the Golden State has made the most of the last 175 years. From innovative thinkers to national parks and the gold rush, there isn’t much California hasn’t done! But that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to think about what the next 175 years will bring.
What’s your favorite coin from the San Francisco Mint? What other people, places or things from California would you like to see celebrated on U.S. coinage (or maybe even as a Littleton exclusive)? We’d love to know in the comments below. And until next time… Happy anniversary California!
Sources:
California State Parks. “California Admission Day September 9, 1850.” Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23856
The White House Historical Association. “Richard M. Nixon.” Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/richard-nixon
Gilkes, Paul. “CCAC reviews 2026 American Innovation dollar design proposals.” Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/ccac-reviews-2026-american-innovation-dollar-design-proposals
Sempervirens Fund. “Top 10 Facts About Redwood Trees.” Accessed July 15, 2025. https://sempervirens.org/learn/redwood-facts/#:~:text=Redwoods%20have%20been%20around%20for,clear%2Dcut%20logging%20and%20development
National Park Foundation. “Channel Islands National Park.” Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/chis/index.htm
PBS. “The California Gold Rush.” Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goldrush-california
