1. California
From 1530 to Today

2. European Exploration (1530-1697)
Francisco De Ulloa led the first voyage which first marked the area of the name “California.”
The first European to explore California was Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, and claimed what he thought was the Island Of California for Spain.

3. Island Of California

4. Spanish Colonization (1697-1821)
In 1697, the first permanent mission in Baja California Sur.
During the last quarter of the 18th century, the first Spanish settlements were established in Alta California.
California was split into two in 1804 into Baja California and Alta California.
Alta California consisted of lands that form the modern US States of California, Utah, Nevada, Northern Arizona, Western Colorado and South Western Wyoming.
Alta California gained independence from Spain in 1821 at the end of the Mexican War of Independence.

5. United States Era ( )
The United States declared war on Mexico May 13th, 1846, but it took almost two months for word to get to California.
On February 2, 1848, the Treat of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, marking the end of the Mexican-American war. In the treaty, the US agreed to pay Mexico 18,250,000, and Mexico formally ceded California to the US.
On September 9th, 1850, California was given official statehood by Congress.

6. Flags over California Spanish Empire 1542
St. George Cross of England 1579
New Spain 1821
Russian-American Company
Argentina 1818
Mexican Empire 1821
Mexican Republic 1823
California Republic 1846
United States of America 1846

7. Sources
Wikipedia