1865: People from around the United States and Mexico continue to flock to California in search of prosperity after the Gold Rush of 1849.

Today: The state of California, led by Governor Pete Wilson, passes strict legislation designed to discourage illegal immigration.

1864: Congress passes a bill to protect California's Yosemite Valley, designating it the first public scenic reserve in the United States.

Today: Environmentalists and big business fight over whether to protect dwindling forests in the Pacific Northwest.

1861: A Western Union telegraph line opens between New York and San Francisco, making communication between the eastern and western United States easier.

Today: Internet services provide a cheap and virtually limitless form of long distance communication, bridging disparate peoples and cultures in the process.