Timeline of the San Francisco Bay Area

This is a timeline of the San Francisco Bay Area in California, events in the nine counties that border on the San Francisco Bay, and the bay itself.
19th century.
1800–1845
1846
1847
1848
James W. Marshall finds several flakes of gold at a lumber mill he owned in partnership John Sutter, at the bank of the South Fork of the American River, news of which quickly travels around the world "(advertisement for transportation to the Gold Rush pictured, right)"<br>
The California Star and the Californian both cease publication in San Francisco due to losing all their staff to the California Gold Rush<br>
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo "(pictured, left)" ends the Mexican–American War, and cedes the territory of California (including the San Francisco Bay Area) to the United States from Mexico<br>
San Francisco's population is 1,000
1849
A small coffee stand "(1983 menu pictured, left)" opens on Clay Street in San Francisco<br>
Boudin Bakery is established in San Francisco, producing San Francisco sourdough "(loaves pictured, right)"<br>
The Alta California begins publishing in San Francisco<br>
Bayard Taylor visits San Francisco and the Gold Country, writing about the Gold Rush<br>
The Niantic whaling ship is stranded by its crew on the shore of San Francisco, who desert it to join the Gold Rush<br>
Irish immigrants Peter and James Donahue found Union Iron Works "(pictured)" in South of Market, San Francisco<br>
San Francisco's population is 25,000, an increase by 2,400% from 1848's 1,000
1850
1851
The San Francisco Unified School District is established, as the first public school district in California "(historic Ida B. Wells High School building pictured, right)"<br>
The San Francisco Committee of Vigilance is formed in response to rampant crime and corruption in the municipal government "(1851 hanging pictured, left)"<br>
Congregation Emanu-El is chartered in San Francisco<br>
A fire destroys large swaths of San Francisco
1852
After opening a number of businesses in Peru and California, Italian chocolatier Domenico Ghirardelli imports 200 pounds of cocoa beans and establishes D. Ghirardelli & Co in San Francisco "(1864 advertisement pictured, left)"<br>
Henry Wells and William G. Fargo establish Wells, Fargo & Company in San Francisco, a joint-stock association with an initial capitalization of $300,000, to provide express and banking services "(iconic stagecoach pictured, right)"<br>
The city of Santa Clara is incorporated in Santa Clara County "(1910 postcard pictured, right)"<br>
Oakland is incorporated in Alameda County "(1867 painting shown, right)"<br>
Francis K. Shattuck, George Blake, and two partners they met in the gold fields, William Hillegass and James Leonard, lay claim to four adjoining strips of land north of Oakland
1853
The California Academy of Natural Sciences "(modern display pictured, left)" is founded in San Francisco<br>
Levi Strauss & Co. is established when Levi Strauss "(pictured, right)" arrives from Buttenheim, Bavaria, in San Francisco to open a west coast branch of his brothers' New York dry goods business<br>
Alameda County is incorporated
1854
Mare Island Naval Shipyard "(pictured, left)", the first United States Navy base established on the Pacific Ocean, is established in Vallejo, Solano County<br>
The Mechanics' Institute Library and Chess Room is founded in San Francisco<br>
The city of Alameda is incorporated in Alameda County "(Alameda Works Shipyard pictured, right)"
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
Schramsberg Vineyards is established in Napa Valley by Jacob Schram "(pictured, left)"<br>
The state capitol is moved from Sacramento to San Francisco, due to Flooding of the Central Valley<br>
Minns Evening Normal School in San Francisco is taken over by the state and moved to San Jose as the California State Normal School<br>
William Boothby "(pictured, right)" is born in San Francisco
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
An earthquake estimated at 6.3–6.7 on the moment magnitude scale hits the Bay Area, with an epicenter in the East Bay. It causes significant damage throughout the region, and comes to be known as the "Great San Francisco earthquake". "(damage in the Haywards area pictured, right)"<br>
The Convent of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart "(pictured, right)" in Oakland is established by members of the Sisters of the Holy Names from Canada<br>
The University of California "(logo pictured, left)" is established in Berkeley, along with the first campus in the system, the University of California, Berkeley<br>
Santa Rosa in Sonoma County is incorporated<br>
Vallejo in Solano County is incorporated<br>
Bret Harte begins publishing the Overland Monthly in San Francisco<br>
The Guittard Chocolate Company is founded in San Francisco
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
The Clay Street Hill Railroad, the first in the San Francisco cable car system "(pictured, left)", begins operations<br>
South Hall "(pictured, right)" is built in Berkeley, thus becoming the new location of the University of California, Berkeley, formerly located in Oakland
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
United States v. Wong Kim Ark is decided in favor of Wong Kim Ark "(pictured, left)", who is thus considered a U.S. citizen<br>
The San Francisco Ferry Building "(pictured, right)", designed by A. Page Brown, opens<br>
A columbarium "(pictured, right)" is built at Odd Fellows Cemetery in San Francisco by Bernard J. S. Cahill, to complement an earlier columbarium built by him<br>
The Baldwin Hotel "(pictured, right)" in San Francisco, built in 1876, burns down<br>
Francis K. Shattuck dies after being knocked down by a man exiting from a train that Shattuck was attempting to board on the eponymous Shattuck Avenue
1899
1900
20th century.
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
On April 17, Daniel Burnham delivers plans "(pictured, left)" for the redesign of San Francisco<br>
The next day, a massive earthquake hits San Francisco, starting fires which burn much of the city to the ground. 3,000 people die during the disaster.
1907
1908
1909
The first Portola Road Race "(pictured, left)" is run through Melrose in Oakland, San Leandro and Hayward, with at least 250,000 attending<br>
Albany "(Albany Hill pictured, right)" is incorporated in Alameda County<br>
Fort Ross State Historic Park is established in Sonoma County to protect Fort Ross, founded in 1812 as the southernmost point in the Russian colonization of the Americas<br>
The C. H. Brown Theater opens in the Mission District, San Francisco<br>
Samuel Merritt College is founded in Oakland as a hospital school of nursing<br>
San Francisco Law School is founded<br>
The neighborhood of Thousand Oaks, a refugee camp from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake adjacent to Albany and Berkeley, is first subdivided
1910
1911
1912
The Bay to Breakers "(news headline on race pictured, right)" is run in San Francisco for the first time<br>
Chinese restaurant Sam Wo "(pictured, left. translation: "Three Harmonies Porridge and Noodles")" in San Francisco's Chinatown opens<br>
Sunnyvale in Santa Clara County is incorporated<br>
The California Society of Etchers is founded in San Francisco<br>
Essanay Studios opens the Essanay-West studio in Niles, at the foot of Niles Canyon
1913
1914
Sather Tower "(pictured, left)", a campanile at the University of California, Berkeley is completed<br>
Temple Sinai "(pictured, right)" in Oakland is completed<br>
The Baby Hospital Association (organized September 1912), and the Baby Hospital Association of Alameda County (organized September 1913), establish The Children's Hospital of the East Bay in Oakland
1915
The new Beaux-Arts style San Francisco City Hall "(pictured, right)" opens at the Civic Center, San Francisco<br>
The Panama–Pacific International Exposition is held in San Francisco, to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal. It features the Palace of Fine Arts "(pictured, left)", the Tower of Jewels "(pictured, right)", and The San Francisco Civic Auditorium. Laura Ingalls Wilder writes about the exposition during her visit to the city that year.
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
A large fire in Berkeley "(pictured, right)" consumes some 640 structures, before being extinguished by cool, humid afternoon air coming through the Golden Gate across the bay<br>
Atherton is incorporated in San Mateo County<br>
California Memorial Stadium "(pictured, right)" opens in Berkeley, as the home field for the California Golden Bears football team of the University of California, Berkeley<br>
The East Bay Municipal Utility District is formed to provide water and sewage treatment services to the East Bay<br>
The San Francisco Opera Ballet gives its first performance, of "La bohème" "(pictured, left)", with Queena Mario and Giovanni Martinelli, conducted by founder Gaetano Merola, at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium
1924
1925
The heated, saltwater Fleishhacker Pool in San Francisco opens "(pictured, left)"<br>
The original Kezar Stadium in San Francisco opens "(replica arch pictured, right)"<br>
San Carlos is incorporated in San Mateo County<br>
The California Arts and Crafts Ainsley House is built in Campbell
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
The San Francisco Museum of Art opens at the War Memorial Veterans Building on Van Ness Avenue in the Civic Center "("Woman with a Hat" by Matisse, from the museum collection, pictured, left)"<br>
Benjamin Franklin Davis, grandson of the man who helped develop Levi's jeans, opens his eponymous clothing store in San Francisco<br>
Benicia Capitol State Historic Park opens at the site of California's third capital building "(pictured, right)", where the California State Legislature convened from February 3, 1853 to February 24, 1854<br>
San Francisco Junior College is established<br>
Lucky Stores is founded in Alameda County<br>
Trolleybuses "(pictured, right)" began operating in San Francisco
1936
1937
The Berkeley Rose Garden "(pictured, right)", built with funds from the Civil Works Administration, opens to the public<br>
The Golden Gate Bridge "(opening day pictured, left)" opens to the public<br>
The Hanna–Honeycomb House "(pictured, right)", built by Frank Lloyd Wright at Stanford University, is completed<br>
The new San Francisco Mint "(pictured, right)" is completed<br>
Stanford Memorial Auditorium is completed<br>
Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno is dedicated<br>
The Malloch Building in San Francisco is completed
1938
The 49-Mile Scenic Drive "(road sign pictured, left)" is created in San Francisco for the Golden Gate International Exposition by the San Francisco Down Town Association<br>
Lake Anza "(pictured, right)" is created in Tilden Park in the Berkeley Hills
1939
The Golden Gate International Exposition "(poster pictured, left)" opens at newly created Treasure Island<br>
The Neptune Beach amusement park closes in Alameda<br>
Hewlett-Packard is founded in a garage "(pictured)" in Palo Alto<br>
Blue Shield of California is founded in San Francisco by the California Medical Association<br>
Consumers' Cooperative of Berkeley opens, having formed from the Berkeley Buyers' Club, which was associated with the End Poverty in California movement<br>
The Top of the Mark rooftop bar "(pictured)" is established at the top of the Mark Hopkins Hotel on Nob Hill in San Francisco<br>
Nuclear scientist Ernest Lawrence at the University of California, Berkeley wins the Nobel Prize for Physics for his invention of the cyclotron
1940
1941
1942
1943
The Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base "(pictured, right)", near Fairfield, in Solano County, is officially activated<br>
Golden Gate Park superintendent John McLaren dies<br>
Edwin Hawkins is born in Oakland "(Edwin Hawkins Singers pictured, left)"
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
The Point Reyes Light weekly newspaper begins publishing in Marin County<br>
The San Francisco Boys Chorus "(pictured)" is formed<br>
Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences is created from the merger of the Schools of Biological Sciences, Humanities, Physical Sciences and Social Sciences<br>
Beat Generation hangout Vesuvio Cafe "(pictured)" opens in San Francisco<br>
Westlake Shopping Center opens in Daly City<br>
Richard Diebenkorn has his first art exhibit at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco<br>
The Doggie Diner fast food restaurant opens in Oakland "(later iconic doggie head pictured)"
1949
1950
1951
The Treaty of San Francisco, between Japan and part of the Allied Powers, is officially signed by 48 nations at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco "(signing pictured, right)"<br>
Stanford Industrial Park in Palo Alto is completed<br>
A Trader Vic's opens in San Francisco<br>
Nuclear scientist Glenn T. Seaborg "(pictured, left)" at the University of California, Berkeley shares the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Edwin McMillan for "discoveries in the chemistry of the transuranium elements."<br>
The is scuttled near the Farallon Islands, after being used as a target for the Operation Crossroads nuclear test at Bikini Atoll
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
The Love Pageant Rally is held, on the day LSD becomes illegal, in Golden Gate Park, by the creators of the "San Francisco Oracle"<br>
The Society for Creative Anachronism "(pictured)" forms in Berkeley, with a parade down Telegraph Avenue<br>
George Paul Miller is re-elected to California's 8th congressional district<br>
The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco "(artifacts pictured)" opens as a wing of the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in Golden Gate Park<br>
High-end clothier Wilkes Bashford opens in Union Square, San Francisco<br>
The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense is formed in Oakland by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale<br>
Moby Grape is formed in San Francisco by Skip Spence and Matthew Katz<br>
The Oakland Coliseum "(pictured)" opens<br>
Peet's Coffee & Tea "(pictured)" is founded in Berkeley<br>
The Print Mint begins publishing and distributing posters and underground comics in Berkeley<br>
The San Francisco Bay Guardian weekly alternative newspaper is founded in San Francisco<br>
The American Conservatory Theater moves to San Francisco
1967
The Mantra-Rock Dance concert takes place at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco<br>
The Human Be-In "(poster artwork from magazine cover depicted, left)" occurs at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, a prelude to the Summer of Love<br>
The University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism is established<br>
Creedence Clearwater Revival "(pictured, right)" is formed in El Cerrito<br>
Rolling Stone magazine "(current logo pictured, right)" begins publishing in San Francisco<br>
Santana is formed in San Francisco by Carlos Santana "(pictured, right)"<br>
The Summer of Love comes to San Francisco
1968
1969
The Altamont Free Concert is held at the Altamont Speedway between Tracy and Livermore<br>
Advanced Micro Devices is founded in Sunnyvale<br>
American Zoetrope "(headquarters at the Sentinel Building pictured)" is founded in San Francisco by Francis Ford Coppola<br>
The Exploratorium "(interior pictured)" is founded in San Francisco<br>
Clothing retailer The Gap "(early logo pictured)" is founded in San Francisco<br>
The Oakland Museum of California is established<br>
The San Jose Museum of Art "(pictured)" is established<br>
A "People's Park" "(pictured)" is created by community activists on University of California, Berkeley property, off Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley<br>
The Bank of America Center building in San Francisco is completed<br>
The Occupation of Alcatraz by Native American activists begins<br>
Earth Day is first proposed by John McConnell at a UNESCO conference in San Francisco<br>
An unidentified person sends letters to the "Vallejo Times Herald", the "San Francisco Chronicle", and "The San Francisco Examiner", taking credit for two fatal shooting incidents, then sends a fourth letter to the "Examiner" with the salutation "Dear Editor This is the Zodiac speaking."
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
Five unsolved murders of young women are committed in San Mateo County<br>
Apple Inc. "(pictured, left)" is founded in Cupertino by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne<br>
Napa Valley wineries Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and Chateau Montelena "(pictured, right)" place best in the red and white wine categories respectively, against their traditionally first ranked French competitors, in the wine tasting that becomes known as the Judgment of Paris<br>
China Camp State Park is established in San Rafael<br>
Fairfield-based candy company Herman Goelitz sells their first Jelly Bellies<br>
Cyra McFadden's The Serial's first installments are published in the "Pacific Sun" alternative newsweekly<br>
Dennis Richmond becomes the lead anchor at KTVU news in Oakland, an early African American news anchor in a major US television market<br>
KPIX television in San Francisco debuts a locally produced magazine program called Evening: The MTWTF Show
1977
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors election places Dianne Feinstein "(pictured, left)", Harvey Milk "(pictured, far right)" and Dan White on the board<br>
Oracle Corporation is founded in Santa Clara<br>
Victoria's Secret opens its first store at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto<br>
Members of the Joe Boys gang open fire at the Golden Dragon Restaurant in Chinatown, in an assault on rival gang Wah Ching, leaving 5 people dead and 11 others injured, none of whom are gang members.<br>
Apple Computer introduces the Apple II
1978
1979
1980
1981
The first World Games are held in Santa Clara<br>
Erhard Seminars Training in San Francisco dissolved<br>
The Sonoma Valley AVA "(winery directional sign pictured, left)" is established<br>
The Napa Valley AVA "(historic marker pictured, right)" is established<br>
The Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary is established in coastal waters off the Golden Gate<br>
Arthur Leonard Schawlow at Stanford University, along with Nicolaas Bloembergen and Kai Siegbahn, share the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work with lasers<br>
14 year old Marcy Renee Conrad is murdered in Milpitas<br>
"Ceratitis capitata", known commonly as the "Mediterranean fruit fly", infests the Bay Area
1982
1983
1984
1985
A plane heading for Buchanan Field Airport loses control and crashes into the roof of Macys, killing the pilot and two passengers, and seriously injuring 84 Christmas shoppers at the Sun Valley Mall in Concord<br>
Año Nuevo State Park is established at Año Nuevo Island "(pictured, left)" and points in San Mateo County<br>
Emeryville Crescent State Marine Reserve "(pictured, right)" is established<br>
NeXT is founded in Redwood City by Apple Computer co-founder Steve Jobs, after being forced out of Apple<br>
The San Francisco 49ers win the Super Bowl for the second time
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
The Oakland and Berkeley Hills are hit by a firestorm "(damage pictured, left)"<br>
Frank Jordan is elected mayor of San Francisco<br>
Groundbreaking ceremonies take place at the AIDS Memorial Grove in San Francisco "(logo pictured, right)"<br>
San Francisco pornography and striptease club pioneer Jim Mitchell kills his brother and business partner Artie in Marin County<br>
Apple Computer introduces the PowerBook line of subnotebook personal computers
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
21st century.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
The 2013 America's Cup "(Oracle Team USA yacht pictured)" is held in San Francisco Bay<br>
Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crashes while landing at San Francisco International Airport<br>
An unofficial death certificate is issued for Jahi McMath by the Alameda County coroner<br>
Andy Lopez is shot and killed by a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy<br>
Warren Hall "(pictured)", at California State University, East Bay, is demolished by implosion<br>
Graton Resort & Casino opens in Rohnert Park<br>
The Russell City Energy Center goes online in Hayward<br>
SFJAZZ Center "(pictured)" opens in San Francisco<br>
The new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opens<br>
Ordinaire, a wine bar and shop serving natural wine, opens in Oakland
Solar Impulse begins a cross-US flight, taking off from Moffett Field in Mountain View<br>
The Tom Lantos Tunnels "(pictured)", at Devil's Slide near Pacifica, open<br>
Gilead Sciences' drug Sovaldi, for the treatment of hepatitis C, is approved by the FDA<br>
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory physicist Carl Haber is awarded a MacArthur "Genius Grant"<br>
San Francisco Bay is designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance<br>
Cancer patient Miles Scott becomes Batkid for a day in San Francisco, turning it into Gotham City, with Mayor Ed Lee and others participating in the Make-A-Wish project
2014
2015
2016
 
2017
2018
2019
2020