The current California State Flag, adopted by the California
state legislature in 1911, is based on the original Bear Flag raised by pioneering
Americans over Sonoma in 1846. The star on the California state flag was taken from the
lone star of Texas. The bear was representative of the numerous Grizzly Bears in the
state of California and the words "California Republic" testify to the feisty American
Pioneers who settled in the territory.
