Hollywood, Silicon Valley, Wine? Is that all there is to California's business history? Not even close. California's business history started in the ground, took the air and now permeates society - it's everywhere. Mining got the state really going with the discovery of gold in 1849. That led to the development of other goods and services to satisfy the needs of a surging population. Food was harvested and served, clothes were made, newspapers were published, shops and hotels opened, railroads crossed the continent, oil was discovered, vines were planted, banks opened, entertainment got filmed, people could fly, computers showed up in garages, technology went high, Internet connected and biotechnology spawned.
All that human activity and enterprise grew into the world's 5th largest economy - in one state!!!
Undoubtedly, there is much more to come, in the next 150+ years. As Enzo Ferrarri said: "What can be conceived can be created." Hopefully, there will be no end to human creativity and perseverance in the service of the consuming public. California should remain a prime beneficiary of that enterprise.