The Constitutional Convention at Monterey adopts California’s Great Seal on October 2, 1849. The debate over the final design is lengthy. One senator thinks the bear should be shown captured by a cowboy. Another lawmaker favors bags of gold over a prospector.
The final design has 31 stars representing the number of states in the Union after California’s admission. Wheat and grapes symbolize the state’s agricultural bounty. The miner represents the leading industry of the day and the ships in the bay signify commercial success. Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, sprang to life full grown just as California became a state without first being a territory. The grizzly bear evokes power and strength as well as the “Bear Flag Revolt” of 1846.
Top Photo: The California State Seal in a variety of uses on vehicles and buildings. Photos by Alex Vassar.