State Flag: California is the 31st state, becoming a state on Sept. 9, 1850. California was ceded by Mexico through the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo in 1848. There was a military government until Dec 20, 1849 and then a local civil government took over. The Bear Flag was raised on June 14, 1846 by American settlers revolting against Mexican rule. William Todd designed the flag and it was adopted by the 1911 State Legislature.

Origin of state's name: From a book, Las Sergas de Esplandián, by Garcia Ordóñez de Montalvo, c. 1500
Highest Point: Mt. Whitney; 14,494 feet,
Lowest Point: DeathValley; 282 feet below sea level,

National Forests: Angeles National Forest, Cleveland National Forest, Eldorado National Forest, Inyo National Forest, Klamath National Forest, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Area, Lassen National Forest, Los Padres National Forest, Mendocino National Forest, Modoc National Forest, Plumas National Forest, San Bernardino National Forest, Sequoia National Forest, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Sierra National Forest, Six Rivers National Forest, Stanislaus National Forest, Tahoe National Forest.

National Parks: Alcatraz Island , Cabrillo National Monument, California National Historic Trail, Channel Islands National Park, Death Valley National Park, Devils Postpile National Monument, Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, Fort Point National Historic Site, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, John Muir National Historic Site, Joshua Tree National Park, Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, Manzanar National Historic Site, Mojave National Preserve, Muir Woods National Monument, Old Spanish National Historic Trail, Pinnacles National Monument, Point Reyes National Seashore, Pony Express National Historic Trail, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Presidio of San Francisco , Redwood National and State Parks, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Yosemite National Park

State Parks: Click here.

Native American Tribes: The Achumawi tribe, The Atsugewi tribe, The Cahuilla tribe, The Chilula tribe, The Chimariko tribe, The Chumash tribe, The Cocopah tribe, The Ohlone (Costanoan) tribe, The Cupeno tribe, The Diegueno (Kumeyaay) tribe, The Esselen tribe, The Gabrielino (Tongva) tribe, The Halchidhoma tribe, The Hupa tribe, The Karok tribe, The Kashaya tribe, The Kato tribe, The Kawaiisu tribe, The Kitanemuk tribe, The Klamath tribe, The Konkow tribe, The Lassik tribe, The Luiseno tribe, The Maidu tribe, The Mattole tribe, The Miwok tribe, The Modoc tribe, The Mojave tribe, The Mono tribe, The Nisenan tribe, The Nomlaki tribe, The Nongatl tribe, The Northern Paiute tribe, The Patwin tribe, The Pomo tribe, The Quechan tribe, The Salinan tribe, The Serrano tribe, The Shasta tribe, The Shoshoni tribe, The Sinkyone tribe, The Southern Paiute tribe, The Tataviam tribe, The Tolowa tribe, The Tubatulabal tribe, The Wailaki tribe, The Wappo tribe, The Washoe tribe, The Whilkut tribe, The Wintu tribe, The Wiyot tribe, The Yana and Yahi tribes, The Yokuts tribe, The Yuki tribe, The Yurok tribe