- Indians have been here for centuries.
- Sir Francis Drake sailed north and discovered a small bay near San Francisco
- Juan Cabrillo explored present-day San Diego, cape San Martin, and San Miguel Island.
- Sebastian Viscaino explored present-day San Diego to present-day Monterey. He made maps of the coast.
- Vitus Bering traveled from northeast Russia across the pacific. In 1728 he found a water route between present-day Alaska and Russia. Russians traveled to California from there.
