San Diego, California

1769Founding of Mission San Diego: Father Junípero Serra established the first permanent European settlement in California, founding Mission San Diego de Alcalá and the Presidio of San Diego on the shores of the Pacific.

1942San Diego Becomes Pacific Fleet Hub: The attack on Pearl Harbor transformed San Diego into the primary staging ground for the Pacific war. The city's population doubled as military installations expanded, permanently reshaping the city's economy and identity.

1915Panama-California Exposition: The exposition in Balboa Park celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal and established the Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style that defines San Diego. The park's buildings and gardens remain the city's cultural heart.

1927Spirit of St. Louis Built in San Diego: Ryan Airlines in San Diego built the monoplane that Charles Lindbergh flew solo across the Atlantic. The achievement put San Diego on the map as an aviation center and led to the growth of the aerospace industry.

1850San Diego Incorporated as California City: San Diego was one of the first cities incorporated after California achieved statehood, though it remained a small frontier town of just 650 people for decades.

1969UCSD Joins ARPANET: The University of California San Diego became one of the first four nodes on ARPANET, the military network that evolved into the internet. This early connection helped seed San Diego's technology and biotech sectors.

1935California Pacific International Exposition: A second major exposition in Balboa Park brought additional buildings and attractions during the Great Depression, further establishing San Diego as a destination city.

1988San Diego Trolley System Expands: The expansion of the San Diego Trolley light rail system connected the city to the Mexican border at San Ysidro, creating one of the busiest international border crossings in the world.

1978PSA Flight 182 Crash: A Pacific Southwest Airlines jet collided with a small plane over North Park, killing 144 people. It was the deadliest air disaster in California history at the time and led to major changes in air traffic control.

1998Qualcomm Transforms San Diego's Economy: Qualcomm's explosive growth in wireless technology made San Diego a global tech hub, diversifying the city's economy beyond military spending and tourism.