Download California flag, 1,200 pixels wide
| Current design adopted | 1911, with the design standardized in 1953 |
|---|---|
| State | California |
| Capital | Sacramento |
What the California flag shows
A white field carries a red five-pointed star in the upper corner by the staff, a brown grizzly bear walking left on a green grass plot, the words 'California Republic' and a red stripe along the bottom. The Legislature's handbook says white symbolizes purity, red courage, the grizzly great strength and the star sovereignty, in imitation of the Lone Star of Texas.
History of the California flag
The original Bear Flag was raised at Sonoma on June 14, 1846, during a short-lived revolt against Mexican rule, and was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. After 1911 the bear varied by manufacturer until the 1953 law set how it and the colors must appear.
More about California
See who represents the state in the California congressional delegation, or browse all 50 state flags.
