Symbol | Official Item

The Californian was designated the official tall ship of California in 2003. All State Ships

"I Love You, California" (words by F.B. Silverwood, music by A.F. Frankenstein) was designated as the official state song of California in 1951. All State songs

San Joaquin soil series was designated the official state soil of California in 1997 through the efforts of students and teachers at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in Madera, natural resource professionals, the Professional Soil Scientists Association of California, legislators, and several state universities. A profile of San Joaquin soil is displayed at the World Soil Museum in the Netherlands. All State Soils

The great seal of the state of California was adopted by The Constitutional Convention of 1849. All State Seals

Symbols on California Seal

California's seal has 31 stars on the upper edge that represent the number of states that existed upon California's admission to the United states in 1850 (dates of statehood).

California designated serpentine the official state rock in 1965 (California was the first state to designate a state rock). All State Rocks

California has a greater number of minerals and a wider variety of rock types than does any other state. Serpentine is a shiny green and blue rock found throughout California. It contains the state's principal deposits of chromite, magnesite, and cinnabar.

California recognized the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) as the official state reptile in 1972 (California also recognizes a marine reptile symbol). All State Reptiles

California designated the chipped stone bear as the official state prehistoric artifact in 1991. California is the first state to designate a prehistoric artifact as an official state symbol (followed by Nevada in 1995 and Tennessee in 2014).

The official position of Poet Laureate of California was created under Assembly Bill 113, signed in 2001 by then-Governor Gray Davis. The unofficial position of poet laureate was established with the appointment of Ina Donna Coolbrith on June 30, 1915.

California designated the Ramona Pageant as the official state outdoor play in 1993. All Art & Drama Symbols

California designated "The Golden State" as the official state nickname in 1968. All State Nicknames