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California Online
California Fun Facts
Symbols of California
Listed here are the state symbols for California. Most of these symbols were selected by the state legislature.
| Nickname: |
Golden State |
 |
| Motto: |
"Eureka" ("I have found it.") |
| Colors: |
Blue and Gold |
| Song: |
"I Love You, California" |
| Flower: |
Golden Poppy |
| Rock: |
Serpentine |
| Mineral: |
Gold |
| Tree: |
California Redwood |
| Fossil: |
Sabre-Toothed Cat |
| Fish: |
Golden Trout |
| Bird: |
California Valley Quail |
| Insect: |
California Dogface Butterfly |
| Reptile: |
Desert Tortoise |
| Animal: |
California Grizzly Bear |
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California
state flower, Golden Poppy |
Parks and Recreation Areas
Many people visit California
to see such natural wonders as redwood forests, snow-peaked
mountains, and volcanic cones. California is known for the outstanding
beauty of its national parks, national forests, and state parks.
The state also has famous golf courses, resorts, beaches, ski
areas, and many other recreational facilities.
There are eight national parks in California. These include:
Channel Islands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, King's Canyon, Lassen
Volcanic, Redwood, Sequoia, and Yosemite. Located in the Sierra
Nevada range, Yosemite National Park is famous for its mountain
and valley scenery. The park contains impressive waterfalls,
forests, cliffs, and unusual rock formations. Sequoia National
Park, in central California, is home to the 275-foot (84-m)
General Sherman giant sequoia, considered the most massive tree
in the world. Some of the world's tallest trees grow in the
Redwood National Park in northwestern California. In stark contrast
is southeastern California's Death Valley National Park. It
is a place of sand dunes, eroded badlands, and golden hills.
Death Valley is also one of the hottest places on Earth, with
summer temperatures averaging well over 100ºF (about 38ºC).
Places of Interest
California is home to many places of interest that draw visitors from all over the world. Some of these sites commemorate the state's rich history. Many of the early Spanish missions have been preserved and at least partially restored. The Santa Barbara Mission, known for its fine architecture, has been called "the Queen of the Missions." North of San Francisco, the Columbia Historic State Park preserves a typical example of a mining community during the gold rush. Hearst-San Simeon State Historical Monument, located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, is the site of the lavish home of newspaper owner William Randolph Hearst. Manzanar National Historic Site, in eastern California, commemorates the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Many tourist sites in California are related to the entertainment industry. Motion-picture studios in southern California provide tours for visitors. Disneyland, in Anaheim, is an amusement park designed by the famous American motion-picture producer Walt Disney. Its attractions include a fairytale castle, railroad rides, and a boat trip through the waters of a rain forest.
California also has many world-famous libraries and art museums. The Huntington Library in San Marino contains an outstanding collection of books, art, tapestries, furniture, and porcelain. One of California's newest art centers is the J. Paul Getty Museum, which opened in Brentwood in late 1997. It houses European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European and American photographs.
Notable People From California (Past and Present)
Many of California's people are famous. Californians have left their mark on every area of life, from John C. Frémont and Richard M. Nixon in government to Joe DiMaggio and Mark McGwire in baseball. Californians, such as George Lucas, Shirley Temple Black, and Leonardo DiCaprio have entertained the nation, while citizens such as conservationist John Muir and astronaut Sally Ride have increased our understanding of the natural world and space.
Many Californians have had a lasting impact on arts or literature,
such as the writer John Steinbeck. Steinbeck was born in Salinas,
California in 1902. He is best known for The Grapes of Wrath
(1939), which describes the Joad family's migration from Oklahoma
to California during the Great Depression. Steinbeck's novel
sparked debate about the difficult lives of migrant laborers,
and it helped lead to agricultural reforms. In 1962, Steinbeck
received the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Californians, such as César Chavez, played active roles in the social movements of the twentieth century. Chavez, a Mexican American labor leader, became a leading voice for the rights of migrant farm workers. His leadership focused national attention on laborers' difficult working conditions, which eventually led to improvements. Born near Yuma, Arizona in 1927, Chavez and his farming family moved to California during the Great Depression. In 1962, Chavez formed the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), later known as the United Farm Workers (UFW). During the 1960s and 1970s, Chavez and his union organized strikes and boycotts to get higher wages from grape or lettuce growers. These actions generally ended with the signing of bargaining agreements. Chavez died in 1993.
Californians have also served as United States presidents. Richard M. Nixon, born in Yorba Linda in 1913, was elected president of the United States in 1968 and was re-elected in 1972. He won respect for foreign policy decisions, such as easing tensions with the Communist world. Nixon, however, resigned from office in 1974 because of his role in the Watergate political scandal. Another Californian in the White House was Ronald Reagan. Born in Illinois in 1911, Reagan won fame in California as a film star. After retiring from the movies, Reagan entered politics and became governor of California in 1967. He was elected president of the United States in 1980 and was re-elected in 1984. A popular president, Reagan cut federal income taxes and helped boost the economy. Spending for the military increased, leading to record-high budget deficits. Reagan used American military strength to pressure the Soviet Union to make the changes that eventually ended the cold war.
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