Which came first? · Counterintuitive
Which came first: the California Gold Rush or the fax machine?
The fax machine came first, in 1843 (first patent). The California Gold Rush followed 5 years later, in 1848 (begins).
- Second1848
The California Gold Rush
event · beginsThe California Gold Rush began in 1848 when gold was found at Sutter's Mill.
- First1843
The fax machine
invention · first patentAlexander Bain patented a way to send images down telegraph wires in 1843, decades before the telephone.
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All which-came-first pairs · About Older Than You Think · Quiz games
Years from Wikidata, each checked against the item’s English Wikipedia article on 2026-10-18. A year stands for what its label says: a founding, a first patent, a premiere.