1776    Father Francisco Palou founds Mission San Francisco de Asis in what is now San Francisco, California.

1847    Yerba Buena, California is renamed San Francisco.

1848    California Gold Rush: The first ship with Chinese immigrants arrives in San Francisco, California.

1852    Congress establishes the United States' 2nd mint in San Francisco, California.

1873    The University of California opens its first medical school in San Francisco, California.

1876    An express train called the ''Transcontinental Express'' arrives in San Francisco, California, via the First Transcontinental Railroad only 83 hours and 39 minutes after leaving New York City.

1892    In San Francisco, California, John Muir organizes the Sierra Club.

1906    San Francisco public school board sparks United States diplomatic crisis with Japan by ordering Japanese students to be taught in racially segregated schools.

1907    Bubonic plague breaks out in San Francisco, California.

1916    In San Francisco, California, a bomb explodes on Market Street during a Preparedness Day parade killing 10 and injuring 40.

1917    Municipally owned streetcars take to the streets of San Francisco, California.

1921    Air mail service begins between New York City and San Francisco.

1951    The first live transcontinental television broadcast takes place in San Francisco, California, from the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference.

1977    The Golden Dragon Massacre took place in San Francisco, California.

1978    In San Francisco, California, city mayor George Moscone and openly gay city supervisor Harvey Milk are assassinated by former supervisor Dan White.

1978    Following the murder of Mayor George Moscone, Dianne Feinstein becomes San Francisco, California's first female mayor (she served until January 8, 1988).

1981    A disease cluster, which will later be known as AIDS, is recognized by medical professionals in San Francisco, California.