70+ California Triva Questions And Answers

Welcome back, trivia enthusiasts! If you enjoyed our road trip trivia post, you’re in for a treat.

This time, we’re diving deep into the Golden State with a fresh set of fascinating California trivia questions.

Fun California Trivia Questions

What city in California is known as the birthplace of the film industry? Answer: Los Angeles
Which California city is famous for its annual Comic-Con event? Answer: San Diego
What is the official state animal of California? Answer: California grizzly bear
Which Californian city is known for its iconic cable cars? Answer: San Francisco
What is the highest peak in the contiguous United States, located in California? Answer: Mount Whitney
Which famous California island served as a federal prison until 1963? Answer: Alcatraz Island
What popular theme park in Anaheim opened in 1955? Answer: Disneyland
Which California city is known as the “Garlic Capital of the World”? Answer: Gilroy
What is the oldest university in California, founded in 1851? Answer: Santa Clara University
Which Californian region is famous for its wine production and vineyards? Answer: Napa Valley
Which California city is known for its mysterious marine layer that tourists often mistake for fog? Answer: San Francisco
Which California city has a higher population of dogs than children? Answer: San Francisco
What unique roadside attraction in California is home to over 300 massive wind turbines? Answer: The Tehachapi Wind Farm
Which California city holds an annual festival celebrating the avocado? Answer: Fallbrook
In what California town can you find a giant statue of Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe? Answer: Klamath

California History Trivia

Who was the first European to explore the coast of California? Answer: Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
When did California become a state? Answer: 1850
What was the name of the 21 missions established by Spanish Franciscans along the California coast? Answer: The California Missions
Who was the first governor of California? Answer: Peter Hardeman Burnett
Which war led to California becoming a part of the United States? Answer: The Mexican-American War
What treaty ended the Mexican-American War and resulted in California becoming U.S. territory? Answer: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
What was the original name of San Francisco? Answer: Yerba Buena
Which Native American tribe is indigenous to the Los Angeles Basin? Answer: The Tongva
What event in 1846 marked the beginning of the Bear Flag Revolt? Answer: The capture of Sonoma
Which famous Californian served as the 40th President of the United States? Answer: Ronald Reagan
Which city was the first capital of California before Sacramento? Answer: San Jose
What famous Californian writer once said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco”? (even though he never actually said it) Answer: Mark Twain
What was the original purpose of the famous Winchester Mystery House in San Jose? Answer: To confuse ghosts
Which early California entrepreneur created a dynasty with his namesake hotels? Answer: Conrad Hilton
What infamous event in 1969 led to the rise of the environmental movement in California? Answer: The Santa Barbara oil spill

California Gold Rush Trivia

In what year did the California Gold Rush begin? Answer: 1848
Who discovered gold at Sutter’s Mill, sparking the Gold Rush? Answer: James W. Marshall
What term was used to describe the gold-seekers who came to California in 1849? Answer: Forty-Niners
Which city became known as the “Gateway to the Gold Fields”? Answer: Sacramento
What was the name of the route taken by many Gold Rush prospectors across the Sierra Nevada mountains? Answer: The California Trail
How did the Gold Rush affect California’s population? Answer: It dramatically increased
What method of gold mining involved using pans to sift through river sediments? Answer: Panning
What was the name of the river where gold was first discovered in California? Answer: The American River
Which California town is famous for its preserved Gold Rush-era buildings and historic sites? Answer: Columbia
What impact did the Gold Rush have on California’s statehood? Answer: It accelerated California’s admission to the Union
What nickname did California earn due to the Gold Rush? Answer: The Golden State
Which town’s saloon features a famous painting of a “nude” lady, attracting curious tourists since the Gold Rush days? Answer: Columbia
What is the name of the preserved Gold Rush ghost town located in the Bodie Hills? Answer: Bodie
Which famous lawman turned vigilante was known for his exploits during the Gold Rush? Answer: Joaquin Murrieta
What term was coined during the Gold Rush to describe people who cheated others out of their gold? Answer: Claim jumper

Fun Facts

What percentage of the world’s almonds is produced in California? Answer: Over 80%
Where does California rank in terms of economy size in the world? Answer: Fifth-largest
What is the name of the tallest tree in the world, found in California? Answer: Hyperion (a coast redwood)
Which year did California host the Winter Olympics? Answer: 1960
What is the largest natural outdoor amphitheater in the United States, located in California? Answer: The Hollywood Bowl
Which national park in California is known for being the hottest and driest? Answer: Death Valley National Park
What is the name of the world’s largest thermometer, located in California? Answer: The thermometer in Baker, California
Which national park is home to the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree by volume in the world? Answer: Sequoia National Park
What is the name of the ghost town that is now a California State Historic Park, often called the best-preserved ghost town in the state? Answer: Bodie
Which California university has a carillon with 61 bells, making it one of the largest in the world? Answer: UC Berkeley
What California city is known for its annual “How Weird Street Faire”? Answer: San Francisco
What giant California landmark is famously said to “move” a few inches each year due to tectonic activity? Answer: The San Andreas Fault
Which Californian city boasts the record for the most farmers’ markets per capita? Answer: Santa Monica

Things to Do in California

Which national park in California is famous for its stunning waterfalls and giant sequoias? Answer: Yosemite National Park
What iconic bridge is a must-see landmark in San Francisco? Answer: The Golden Gate Bridge
What is the name of the scenic highway that runs along California’s coast? Answer: Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1)
What theme park in Anaheim is known as “The Happiest Place on Earth”? Answer: Disneyland
Which historic island prison can be toured in San Francisco Bay? Answer: Alcatraz Island
Where can you relax on beautiful beaches and enjoy surfing in California? Answer: Malibu
What national park is famous for its unique Joshua trees and rock formations? Answer: Joshua Tree National Park
What Los Angeles museum is known for its art collection and stunning architecture? Answer: The Getty Center
Which San Diego attraction is one of the most famous zoos in the world? Answer: The San Diego Zoo
Where can you drive through a tree without getting out of your car? Answer: Chandelier Tree in Leggett
Which California city is famous for its historic Gaslamp Quarter, known for vibrant nightlife? Answer: San Diego
In what California desert can you see a forest of Joshua trees, which look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book? Answer: Mojave Desert
Which city is home to the famous Griffith Observatory, offering stunning views of the Hollywood sign and the Los Angeles skyline? Answer: Los Angeles