California State Flag

History of the California State Flag:

The California state flag we know today is an adaptation of an earlier flag created by William Todd in June of 1846. This flag was created by a group of settlers that were fighting against the rule of Mexico. Events surrounding the “Bear Flag Revolt” were documented by settler John Bidwell. “William L. Todd who painted, on a piece of brown cotton, a yard and a half or so in length, with old red or brown paint that he happened to find, what he intended to be a representation of a grizzly bear.” Todd’s painting was mistaken by many native Californians as the word ‘Coche,’ a common term for pig, which was often uttered while viewing the flag. The flag also had a five-point star and the words “California Republic” on it. This flag was eventually destroyed in the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906. In 1911 California adopted its current state flag. This flag was based upon the original Bear Flag. It was later determined that the star was a representation of the lone star of Texas, the centered grizzly bear was for the state’s abundance of the animal, and the words “California Republic” as a reminder of the strong Americans who settled the area.

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