History of the California State Flag:
- The bear flag is the official flag of California
- The first official version of the bear flag was adopted in 1911 as the official state flag and in 1953 the design and specifications were standardized
- The flag consists of a wide red stripe along the bottom, a red star in the upper left corner, a grizzly bear walking on a patch of green grass and CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC below the bear
- It is said the bear represents the last California Grizzly Bear in captivity, named Monarch
- The image of the bear varied for many years depending on the manufacturer, in 1953 the bear image was standardized to use the 1855 watercolor

