Official Symbols of California

Official Symbols of the State of California

	Spanish explorers who first sailed along the coast in the 1500's called this region California, probably after the name of a treasure island in a popular Spanish tale.
	The California Grizzly Bear (Ursus californicus) was designated the official State ANIMAL in 1953. At one time this bear thrived in the great valleys and low mountains of California. When humans first began populating the region the grizzly was able to hold its ground. But because it killed livestock and interfered with settlers, it was seen as a threat. Less than 75 years after the discovery of gold, every grizzly bear in California had been tracked down and killed. The last California Grizzly Bear was killed in Tulare County in August 1922.
	The California Quail (Lophortyx californica), also known as the valley quail, became the official State BIRD in 1931. Known for its hardiness and adaptability, this game bird is widely distributed throughout California. Flocks number from a few to 60 or more in the fall and winter months.
	The combination of Blue and Gold as official COLORS in California was first used by the University of California, Berkeley, in 1875. Blue represented the sky and gold the color of the precious metal discovered at Sutter's Mill in 1849. The Secretary of State began using blue and gold ribbons on official documents as early as 1913. Secretary of State Frank M. Jordan suggested making Blue and Gold the official State Colors, and legislation to that effect was enacted in 1951.
	The official DANCE of California is West Coast Swing. It came into being in California in the early 1930's, in response to new musical forms then sweeping the country. Related to the swing, whip, and jitterbug, West Coast Swing requires a great deal of coordination, good timing, and intelligent application.
	The California Consolidated Drum Band was designated as the official State FIFE AND DRUM CORPS in 1997.
	The Golden Trout (Salmo aqua-bonita) was named the official State FISH by the 1947 State Legislature. Native only to California, the species was originally found only in a few streams in the icy headwaters of the Kern River, south of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the United States outside of Alaska. Stocking of wild and hatchery-reared fish has extended its range to many waters at high elevation in the Sierra Nevada from El Dorado and Alpine counties southward. It has also been transplanted to other states.
	The "Bear Flag" of the California Republic was first raised at Sonoma on June 14, 1846, by a group of American settlers in revolt against Mexican rule. The flag was designed by William Todd. The star imitated the "Lone Star" of Texas, while the grizzly bear represented the many bears seen in the area. The flag only flew until July 9, when it was learned that Mexico and the United States were already at war. Soon after, the Bear Flag was replaced with the American flag. The "Bear Flag" was adopted as the official State FLAG by the 1911 State Legislature.
	The Golden Poppy (Eschsholtzia californica) was declared the official State FLOWER in 1903. California Indians cherished the plant as both a source of food and for extracted oil. Also sometimes known as the flame flower, the golden poppy grows wild throughout California. Every year April 6 is California Poppy Day.
	The Square Dance is one of the few truly American-created dances. California leads the nation with more than 200,000 residents square dancing weekly, which is why it has been designated the official State FOLK DANCE.
	The Saber-Toothed Tiger (Smilodon californicus) was designated the official State FOSSIL by the 1973 State Legislature. This meat-eater was very common in California during the late Pleistocene epoch that ended about 11,000 to 10,000 years ago. Fossil bones have been found in abundance preserved in the tar pits of Rancho La Brea in Los Angeles.
	Benitoite, also known as "blue diamond," was first discovered near the headwaters of the San Benito River, from which it derived its name. Extremely rare, the gem ranges in color from a light transparent blue to dark, vivid sapphire blue, and occasionally a violet shade. It was designated as the official State GEMSTONE in 1985.
	The name Bodie was given to a camp near the site where Wakeman S. Bodey discovered gold in 1859. By 1880 the town had a population of 10,000. The mining boom ended in the early 1880's, and the town gradually lost its prominence. What remains of the town's buildings and contents remain as they did after the last residents departed. Located northeast of Yosemite National Park, Bodie was designated the official California GOLD RUSH GHOST TOWN in 2002.
	Purple Needlegrass (Nassella pulchra) was designated the official State GRASS in 2004. It is a medium-large, long-lived bunchgrass well adapted to the clay soils of California. It is the most widespread native bunchgrass, and its growing range is from the Oregon border into northern Baja California. The seeds of this grass were once used by California Indians as a food source, and the grass itself provided valuable forage for cattle. It continues to provide forage for California's cattle industry to this day. Very tolerant of summer drought and heat, purple needlegrass can live more than 150 years and has been used in projects such as habitat restoration, erosion and levee control.
	Established in 1871, the California Historical Society was designated the official State HISTORICAL SOCIETY in 1979. Headquartered in San Francisco, the society houses a large collection of manuscripts, maps, posters, printed ephemera, books, and pamphlets, as well as a large collection of art that depicts the history of California.
	The California Dogface Butterfly, or dog head, (Zerene eurydice) was designated the official State INSECT in 1972. This butterfly is found only in California, from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada to the Coast Ranges and from Sonoma south to San Diego.
	The Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) is most common in the shallow waters off the Southern California coast. Although it is not an endangered species, commercial collection by the saltwater aquarium industry has reduced its numbers. In 1995, the State Legislature placed a moratorium on commercial collections until the year 2002, and also designated it as the official State MARINE FISH.
	The California Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is identified by its mottled gray color and low hump in place of a dorsal fin. From December through February, the whales can be seen traveling southward in small groups along the California coast on their way to the bays and lagoons of Baja California, where mating occurs and the females calve. In March and April they once travel north along the shoreline, back to their feeding grounds in the Bering Sea. It was designated the official State MARINE MAMMAL in 1975.
	The California State MILITARY MUSEUM was designated as the California State Military Museum and Resource Center in 2004. Headquartered in Sacramento, the museum has auxiliary branches at Camp Roberts in Monterey County, Camp San Luis Obispo, Fresno Air National Guard Base, Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base in Orange County, and San Diego National Guard Armory.
	Not surprisingly, Gold is the official State MINERAL; it was so designated in 1965. In the four years following the discovery of gold by James Marshall in 1848, California's population swelled from 14,000 to 250,000 people. Between 1850 and 1859, 28,280,711 fine ounces of gold were extracted, which would be worth about $10 billion today. Although production is much lower today, prospectors and thrill-seekers can still pan for gold in California's streams.
	The Greek word Eureka has appeared on the State Seal since 1849, and means "I have found it." Tradition states that the words were intended to refer to the discovery of gold in California. In 1957, attempts were made to establish "In God We Trust" as the State MOTTO, but "Eureka!" gained that distinction in 1963.
	"The Golden State" has long been a popular designation for California. It was made the official State NICKNAME in 1968.
	Al Young was born in Mississippi in 1939, but has lived in the San Francisco Bay area most of his life. He is the author of a number of books of poetry and fiction, and the co-editor of several works. As POET LAUREATE, he is charged with providing a minimum of six public poetry readings in both rural and urban California areas, as well as educating community, business and government leaders about the value of creative expression.
	The Chipped Stone Bear was discovered at an archaeological dig site in San Diego County in 1985. It measures about 2-1/2 by 1-1/2 inches and resembles a walking bear. Fashioned from volcanic rock some 7,000 to 8,000 years ago, it is thought to have been made for religious use. It was designated the State PREHISTORIC ARTIFACT in 1991.
	Issued by the United States Mint on January 31, 2005, the California State QUARTER depicts naturalist and conservationist John Muir admiring Yosemite Valley's monolithic Half Dome while a California Condor soars overhead. John Muir helped found the Sierra Club in 1892 to protect Yosemite National Park, and served as the club's president until his death in 1914. The California Condor was once nearly extinct, but an intense conservation program has led to the species gradually regaining a foothold in California. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger chose the design concept from five final concepts presented to him by the 20-member California State Quarter Commission.
	The Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizi) is found in the southwestern desert areas of California, where it now enjoys protected status as an endangered species. This species played a key role in the passage of the California Desert Protection Act of 1994, which added millions of acres to the national park and wilderness system. It was designated the official State REPTILE in 1972.
	Serpentine is a shiny, green and blue rock found throughout California. It contains the state's principal deposits of chromite, magnesite, and cinnabar, and was designated the official State ROCK in 1965.
	The Great SEAL of the State of California was adopted by the California State Constitutional Convention of 1849. The seal was designed by Major R.S. Garnett of the United States Army, and proposed by Caleb Lyon, a clerk of the convention. The Roman goddess of wisdom, Minerva, has at her feet a grizzly bear and clusters of grapes, representing wildlife and agricultural richness. A miner works near the busy Sacramento River, below the Sierra Nevada peaks. The Greek word "Eureka" probably refers to the miners' discovery of gold. The 31 stars represent the number of states upon California's admission to the Union. Just as Minerva sprung full-grown from the head of Jupiter, California became a state without having to go through the "traditional" territorial stage.
	The town of Calico was founded near the site of a major silver strike in 1881, and at the height of its glory claimed over 20 saloons and hundreds of nearby mines. It is estimated that between $13 and $20 million worth of silver was extracted from the area before the boom busted in the mid-1890's. Now part of a 480-acre County Regional Park near Barstow, Calico was designated the official State SILVER RUSH GHOST TOWN in 2005.
	SOIL San Joaquin
	The lyrics of "I Love You, California" were written by F.B. Silverwood, a Los Angeles merchant. The words were subsequently put to music by Alfred Frankenstein, a former conductor for the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra. It was the official song of expositions held in San Francisco and San Diego in 1915, and was played by the first ship to go through the Panama Canal. It was designated the official State SONG in 1988.
	Built in 1984, the Californian is a replica of the 1847 Revenue Cutter C.W. Lawrence that patrolled California's coast during the Gold Rush period. She has nine sails for a total of 7,000 square feet of canvas, weighs 130 tons, and measures 145 feet in length. Owned by the Maritime Museum of San Diego since 2002, the Californian is used for educational programs. It was designated the official State TALL SHIP in 2003.
	The California Tartan was designated the official State TARTAN in 2001, and recognizes the contributions to California by residents of Scottish ancestry. Based on the Muir Clan tartan, in honor of naturalist John Muir, the tartan's blue reflects the sky, the ocean, and the state's rivers and lakes, while the green stands for the state's mountains, fields, and parks. The red, gold, and blue seams signify the arts, sciences, agriculture, and industry of California.
	The cornerstone for the Pasadena Playhouse was laid in May 1924. The theatre staged its first production in May 1925, and was recognized as the official State THEATRE in 1937. Many famous actors have graced the Pasadena Playhouse stage including Jean Arthur, Eve Arden, Gene Hackman, Raymond Burr, and Tyrone Power. Today, the 680-seat mainstage theater hosts a year-round session of six plays, giving 306-322 performances annually.
	The California Redwood was designated the official State TREE in 1937. Once common throughout the Northern Hemisphere, redwoods are now only found on the Pacific Coast. There are actually two genera of California Redwood -- the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum). The coast redwoods are the tallest trees in the world, with one in Redwood National and State Parks standing 379 feet tall. One giant sequoia, the General Sherman Tree in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, is over 274 feet high and more than 102 feet in circumference at its base, and is considered by many to be the world's largest tree in overall volume.