The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began when gold was discovered by James W. Marshall (above) at Sutter’s Mill, in northern California at Coloma. News of the discovery 
brought some 300,000 people to California from vast parts of the United States and abroad.Some became quite wealthy, but many returned home with little more than what
they started with. The effects of the Gold Rush resulted in San Francisco growing from a small settlement to a boomtown. A state constitution was written and California became  
a state in 1850 as part of the compromise of 1850. 

Eugene B. Ely (above) made the first successful landing of an aircraft
on a floating vessel when he flew his Curtiss Pusher onto the deck of  
the USS Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay. He was 24 years old.

Actor John Dye, whose career included the role of Andrew, the angel of death, in the long-running television series "Touched by an Angel," was found dead at his San Francisco home, a medical examiner’s spokesman said Thursday.

Medical examiner’s investigator Charles Cecil said the 47-year-old Dye, a native of Amory, Miss., was found dead Monday.

The cause of death has not been determined, Cecil said, but relatives said Dye suffered apparent heart failure. 

British filmmaker Peter Yates, who sent Steve McQueen screeching through
the streets of San Francisco in a Ford Mustang in "Bullitt," has died at the age of 81.

Yates was nominated for four Academy Awards – two as director and two as producer
for the cycling tale "Breaking Away" and the backstage drama "The Dresser." (AP)