It was 175 years ago that California officially became a state, and there's a free block-long festival on Tuesday to mark the occasion.

The celebration will include a laser light show on Capitol Mall, along with music and free cake. The block party marks Admission Day, when California officially became a state in 1850.

Peter Burnett, California's first governor, made the announcement back then.

"The governor officially made a welcome speech to all Californians, sort of an inaugural speech for the state, and that's when they really joined the United States," said Armando Quintero, director of California State Parks and Recreation.

The population of the Sacramento region was already dramatically growing at the time, thanks to the discovery of gold two years earlier.

"It was extraordinar

See Full Page