California State Flag

California State Flag

The Bear Flag is the State Flag of California. The original Bear Flag was raised at Sonoma on June 14, 1846 by Americans who proclaimed California independent of Mexico in what became called the Bear Flag Revolt. This flag, also known as the Todd Flag, was designed by William Todd, a nephew of Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of the future president. It featured a star and a grizzly bear on a white background. Below the bear and above a broad red stripe in black letters were the words "California Republic". The Todd Flag was destroyed in the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906 but served as a prototype for the California State Flag.

The Bear Flag was adopted as the official flag of California in 1911. The current design followed several make overs of the original and was done by California historian and artist Donald Kelley in 1953.

The symbolism of the flag:

• Grizzly bear: strength
• Red in the star and bar: courage
• Star: sovereignty
• White background: purity

Nicknamed the "Golden State," California is the third largest state in area after Alaska and Texas. The discovery of gold and the immigration in 1849 of thousands of "forty-niners" in search of the precious metal helped California's admission into the Union in 1850. Today, California, land of the giant redwoods, has the highest population of any state in the nation and is America's principal agricultural state. It is also the home of Hollywood, the center of America's movie and television industry. Its capital is Sacramento and the state flower is the golden poppy.
 

Los Angeles Seal - Los Angeles County Flag