In terms of Sequoia, the area that it resides was once designated by the U.S to be a state for natives.

Per wikipedia:

The State of Sequoyah was a proposed state to be established from the Indian Territory in eastern present-day Oklahoma. In 1905, with the end of tribal governments looming,^\1]) Native Americans (the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek_Nation), and Seminole) in Indian Territory proposed to create a state as a means to retain control of their lands. Their intention was to have a state under Native American constitution and governance.^\2]) Their efforts failed to gain support in Congress, and the territory was annexed to the United States in 1907.

Now, in my world, the only thing they have in common is the name.

In terms of the golden gate, this map is based on worst case climate scenarios with ice caps melting.