California Flag

The flag of California, officially known as the Bear Flag, is a distinctive and iconic state banner featuring a unique white field with a wide red horizontal stripe along the bottom. Its most prominent feature is a large red star in the upper left canton, accompanied by the image of a California grizzly bear walking on a patch of green grass. The name of the state, 'CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC', is inscribed in bold, brown capital letters along the bottom red stripe.

Adopted in 1911, the design is a modern recreation of the original Bear Flag flown during the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt, a short-lived rebellion of American settlers against Mexican rule. The flag's design breaks from the common patterns of U.S. state flags, which often feature a state seal on a blue background, making it one of the most recognizable and non-standard state banners in the nation.

The flag's visual elements are bold and simple, designed to be identifiable from a distance. Its use of a large central symbol (the bear) and a single star creates a strong, memorable impression that is deeply tied to California's early history and independent spirit.

The central California grizzly bear symbolizes strength, independence, and the state's native wildlife, referencing the species that once roamed widely in the region. The red star in the canton is a nod to the Lone Star of Texas, representing the idea of California becoming an independent republic, while the white field is said to symbolize purity.

The red stripe at the bottom represents courage, and the green grass upon which the bear stands signifies the land itself. The words 'CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC' directly recall the short-lived, self-declared republic established by the insurgents in 1846, cementing the flag's role as a symbol of sovereign identity and rebellion.

The flag's origin traces back to the Bear Flag Revolt of June 14, 1846, when a group of American settlers in Sonoma proclaimed California an independent republic from Mexico and hastily created the first Bear Flag. This original flag, painted by William L. Todd, was lost in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.

The modern flag was officially adopted by the California State Legislature on February 3, 1911. The design was standardized, with the bear modeled after a captured grizzly named Monarch. Minor design specifications, including the exact look of the bear, were further refined by legislation in 1953.