List of California state symbols explained

Most of the officially designated emblems of the state of California are found in sections 420–429.8 of the California Codes.^[1]

Insignia

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Source
Flag	The Flag of California
Seal	The Great Seal of the State of California
Motto	"Eureka"		1963	—
Nicknames	Golden State		1968	—
Song	"I Love You, California"		1989	—

State symbols

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Source
Amphibian	California red-legged frog Rana draytonii		2014		^[2]
Animal	California grizzly bear Ursus arctos californicus		1958
Bat	Pallid batAntrozous pallidus		2024		^[3]
Bird	California quail Callipepla californica		1931		^[4]
Colors	Blue and gold	Blue represents the sky, and gold represents the color of the precious metal found by forty-niners in the state's hills.	1951
Dance	West Coast Swing		1988
Dinosaur	Augustynolophus		2017
Fabric	Denim		2016		^[5]
Fife and drum band	California Consolidated Drum Band		1997
Flower	California poppy Eschscholzia californica		1903
Folk dance	Square dance		1988
Fossil	Saber-toothed cat Smilodon californicus		1973
Freshwater fish	Golden trout Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita		1947
Fruit	Avocado Persea americana		2013		^[6]
Gemstone	Benitoite		1985
Gold rush ghost town	Bodie		2002
Grain	Rice		2013
Grass	Purple needlegrass Stipa pulchra (formerly Nassella pulchra)		2004
Historical society	California Historical Society		1979
Insect	California dogface butterfly Colias eurydice		1972
Lichen	Lace lichen Ramalina menziesii		2015
Marine fish	Garibaldi Hypsypops rubicundus		2002
Marine mammal	Gray whale Eschrichtius robustus		1975
Marine reptile	Leatherback sea turtle Dermochelys coriacea		2012
Military museum	California State Military Museum		2004
Mineral	Gold		1965
Mushroom	California Golden Chanterelle		2023		^[7]
Nuts	Almond, Walnut, Pistachio, and Pecan		2017		^[8]
Outdoor play	The Ramona Pageant		1993		^[9]
Prehistoric artifact	Chipped Stone Bear		1991		^[10]
Reptile	Desert tortoise Gopherus agassizi		1972
Rock	Serpentine		1965
Silver rush ghost town	Calico		2005
Soil	San Joaquin		1997
Sport	Surfing		2018
Tall ship	Californian		2003
Tartan	California state tartan		2001
Theater	Pasadena Playhouse		1937
Trees	Coast redwood and giant sequoia Sequoia sempervirens & Sequoiadendron giganteum		1937
Vegetable	Artichoke Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus		2013
Vietnam veterans memorial	California Vietnam Veterans Memorial		2014		^[11] ^[12]

See also

• List of California-related topics
• Lists of United States state insignia

External links

• California State Symbols

Notes and References

1. California Government Code, §§ 420-429.8
2. News: Gov. Brown signs bills legalizing Bitcoins use, other legislation . Los Angeles Times . June 28, 2014.
3. Web site: California SB732 TrackBill . 2023-12-24 . trackbill.com . en.
4. Web site: Iconic California: State Symbols that Represent California . 2024-04-03 . California State Capitol Museum . en-US.
5. News: Stuff jeans are made of honored by California Legislature . Sacramento Bee. September 1, 2016.
6. News: California State Foods Named By Gavin Newsom. April 25, 2013 . Huffington Post. April 24, 2013.
7. News: Stierch . Sarah . | accessdate =January 11, 2024 Mendocino Flavors: California’s new state mushroom, Good Food Award finalists, and more food and drink tidbits . The Mendocino Voice. January 11, 2024 .
8. Web site: State Symbols . State History . California Stale Library . 2019-05-15.
9. Web site: California Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 5. 1993. legainfo.ca.gov.
10. Web site: California State Prehistoric Artifact: Chipped Stone Bear. parks.ca.gov/.
11. Web site: Vietnam War Memorial . California State Capitol Museum . 28 April 2022.
12. Web site: The California Vietnam Veterans Memorial . Vietnam Veteran.