The Fascinating History of the California State Flag

Breaking the Rules of Flag Design

The first rule of flag design...don’t put words on flags. Well, according to the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA), that’s actually rule #4. Yet, California’s state flag breaks this and several other design principles—complexity, multiple colors, and yes, words. Despite this, it remains one of the most beloved and recognizable state flags. It’s proof that sometimes, breaking the rules can lead to something great.

The California flag features four key elements: the star, the bear, the stripe, and the words. Each has its own rich history, and to dive into each one, we need to travel through time and across the golden state.

The Birth of the Bear Flag

In June 1846, a group of about 30 American immigrants marched into Mexican territoriy and the city of Sonoma. They quickly seized control, and hoisted their own flag—the Bear Flag—declaring it the new California Republic. One of the men behind it was William Todd, the nephew of Abraham Lincoln. Todd designed the flag that would later inspire the state flag we see today. The original was unfortunately destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, but reproductions help keep its legacy alive.

Historians debate whether Todd’s flag was truly the first. Some argue that Peter Storm created an earlier version with a bear on its hind legs and a star, but without words. While it’s unclear which flag came first, we know for certain that Todd’s flag was the one taken down when U.S. troops arrived just 25 days later to claim California.

The Meaning Behind the Stripe

One of the more unique elements of the flag is the red stripe along the bottom. Legend has it that Peter Storm and his wife sewed it from flannel diapers. Later, when Todd created his version, the stripe was narrower—likely because he used a strip of a woman’s red petticoat. This design choice made the flag distinct, grounding the design in a way not seen in many other flags.

The Lone Star Connection

Growing up in Texas, I often heard that the red star on California’s flag was a tribute to Texas, which had recently won independence from Mexico and they wanted to do the same. While this theory sounds like classic Texan pride, history suggests a different origin.

Ten years before the Bear Flag Revolt, Juan Alvarado led a coup in Monterey and flew a flag with a lone red star on a white background. The last Alvarado flag, known as the Lone Star Flag of California, is preserved in the Autry Western Museum in Los Angeles. 

Despite the similarities, flag historian Jim Ferrigan believes the Bear Flaggers were likely unaware of Alvarado’s flag and leand more toward that a single star was a common symbol of independence among American settlers, as seen in the flags of Texas and the West Florida Republic.

Why a Bear?

Todd wrote in a letter that the bear on the California flag represents “strength and unyielding resistance”, but it also has a deeper meaning. Mexican settlers used "Oso" (bear) as a nickname for the fur-covered, rugged American pioneers arriving in California. Instead of rejecting the term, the settlers embraced it.

Interestingly, Todd’s bear on the original flag looked more like a pig, likely due to the crude materials available—his paint was made from berries and brick dust.

After California became a state in 1850, it went without a state flag for 60 years until 1911, when they wanted to bring the bear flag back.

But which bear should be used? The 1911 law didn’t specify, so various designs circulated until 1953 when an official version was standardized, based on a painting of Monarch, a real California grizzly bear who was captured and lived in Golden Gate Park. Monarch’s legacy lives on, even though the California grizzly is now extinct.

The Famous Misspelling

One of my favorite stories about the original flag involves a spelling mistake. William Todd originally misspelled "Republic" as "Republc." Realizing his mistake, he tried to fix it by changing the original "c" into the missing "i", then adding another "c" and another period. While modern recreations have corrected the error, it’s a an important feature as it is how Todd identified the original flag when it came back from Washington.

Why the California Flag Stands Out

Even though it breaks several flag design rules, the California flag stands strong—not because of political compromise, but because of history. Its bold design and deep-rooted symbolism make it one of the most iconic state flags. Since Los Angeles and San Francisco don’t have well-known city flags, the California flag has become the go-to souvenir across the state.

I even attempted to redesign it in my Better State Flag series, following strict flag design rules, but ultimately, I decided that the California flag is perfect just the way it is. If you want to grab one, including Pride versions, patches, stickers, and more, check out FlagsForGood.com.