1857 California Admission Day

On September 9, 1857, the seventh anniversary of California’s admission as a state, a parade and celebration of the anniversary was held in San Francisco, the largest city in the State. These events are documented in a publication of the Society of California Pioneers, printed in San Francisco by Charles F. Robbins, which also includes reporting on the events by the San Francisco newspaper, the Alta California. Most significantly the Society’s report noted:

"The Society of California Pioneers ....bore in their ranks the celebrated Sonoma bear flag, the first raised in California prior to the annexation of the Territory; the second bear flag, and Col. Fremont’s silk banner." 12239

Love the Place You Live Bear Flag

Love the Place You Live posted online this enhanced version of the California Bear Flag some months ago. They made concerted effort to do a nice job with the bear.

A California take on "Don't Tread on Me"

A version of the California Flag with rattlesnack in place of grizzly in a promotion of "No on Prop 8," the proposition to constitutionally outlaw gay marriage in California.

A Teddy Bear Flag

A recent cartoon-like Bear Flag with the teddy bear walking away from the star and 10 tufts in the grass plat.

April 1846 William Todd Letter

August 13, 1846: Sangamo Journal (Springfield, Ill.):

"INTERESTING FROM CALIFORNIA: Dr. Todd of this city, has politely furnished us with a letter from his son, William L. Todd, who went out with the emigration to California, in the spring of 1845, dated on the 17th of April, from which we make the following extracts. He states .... 'If there are any persons in Sangamon who speak of crossing the rocky mountains to this country, tell them my advice is, to stay at home.... Here every thing is on the other extreme -- the government is tyrannical, the weather unseasonable, poor crops, and the necessaries of life not to be had except at the most extortioned prices, and frequently not then.... The Mexicans talk every spring and fall here of driving the foreigners out of the country. They must do it this year, or they never can do it. There will be a revolution before long, and probably this country will be re-annexed to the United States. If here, I will take a hand in it.' William L. Todd"

1880 Bear Flag on NSGW Card

This is a photograph of an 1880 Visalia Parlor NSGW card with a Bear Flag in the upper left corner.

A very cold escaped California Bear?

OK, we're pushing things here, but love this photo. Just imagine that the California Bear escaped to Denver CO only to find he/she was so cold that he/she turned blue. That was just too much so up on hind legs it is and "Darn it! I'm gonna push this dang building over to show it who is boss."

Well, anyway the photo is quite nice, don't ya think?

Bear Flag Photo from the Bancroft's Bear in Mind Exhibition

John Fowler & Bear Flag Weather

John Fowler says in a lengthy article in the Placerville Mountain Democrat of 3/21/1891, from an interview of 12/30/1890, that: "on Sunday, June 14 .... The day was intensely hot...." He says this even though he erroneously says they took Sonoma at about noon on the 14th.

This is one of a few indications of the specific weather during the Bear Flag Revolt which we have read.

Hot in Sonoma in June makes a lot of sense. 12219

Bear Flaggers Cowie & Fowler

Thomas Cowie & George Fowler were two of the 33 or 34 men, the Bear Flaggers, who took Sonoma on the morning of June 14, 1846. According to R. A. Thompson in his 1896 The Conquest of California, 'On the 18th of June[1846], Thomas Cowie and George Fowler volunteered to go from Sonoma to the Fitch ranch to get a keg of powder from Mose Carson. They were told to keep to the hills and avoid Santa Rosa. They were, however, discovered near there by a band of Californians, under command of Juan Padilla, and were captured.' Thompson further states that on June 19th, Cowie & Fowler were killed by their captors, becoming the first casualties of the Bear Flag Revolt. Also, as two potential witnesses to the making of the Bear Flag, we lost their memories of the events. 12199

Bear Flag at Mt. Rushmore

The California Bear Flag flying among other State Flags at Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota.

1861 Bear Flag Celebrations

"About a dozen of the old pioneers, who raised the Bear Flag at Sonoma in 1846, assembled at that place on the 5th of July, to celebrate the anniversary of that event. They met in front of the old barracks on the plaza, which barracks were used by the Mexican troops in 1846 and afterwards by the American troops from 18...50 to 1852. They were round the flagstaff which, it is said, is the same pole which stood there fifteen years ago. Wm. Baldridge and Mr. Van Pfeister addressed the company, and toasts were drunk in California wine. It had been the intention to hoist the old Bear Flag, but a report having been started that they intended to hoist a Secession flag, this part of the programme was not carried into execution.' THE SONOMA COUNTY DEMOCRAT, SANTA ROSA, CALIF., 11 July, 1861" 12169

Bear Flag at North Lake Tahoe

This is a photograph of the Bear Flag flying at North Lake Tahoe during July 2008.

A Very Interesting Older Bear Flag

One that got away... This is a photograph of a very interesting California Bear Flag that was for sale on ebay in February 2010. Unfortunately we were outbid, so all we have is this photo.

Bear Flag Boogie Board

A photograph of a 2008 "California Quad" boogie board. Sweeeeet!

Another Bear Flag Wine

This is a photograph of a Bear Flag Wine label for wine earlier than the Bear Flag Wine presently for sale and being marketed. This particular lable is for a 1999 Zinfandel wine.

Bear Flag Barn Roof, Jack Tone Ranch

Above are three photographs of the Bear Flag barn roof at the Jack Tone Ranch in the California Central Valley. The final photograph is an article from the Lodi Sentinel from 1999, showing the roof being painted. The Bear Flag was painted in honor of California's 150th Anniversaries. Thanks to Margie Pope at the Ranch for the photographs.

Also if you use Google Maps and search Jack Tone Ranch, using its satellite view, you can come in for a pretty close look at the barn's Bear Flag from up above.

Lincoln School, Riverside, CA

This is a pre-1956 photography by Avery Field of Lincoln School in Riverside, California with the Bear Flag being raised.

1958 Bear Flag Presentation

This is a 1958 photograph of the California Bear Flag being presented to a post office.

Amador Ledger June 10, 1910

"Bear Flag will be observed on the 14th of June and small flags appropriately designed will be on sale at Vela and Picardo. Sporting star on Main street, Jackson.

"All Native Sons are urged particularly to secure a flag, and wear it on the above named day.

"LINCOLN AVNDAMENT,
President of Native Sons."

John Marsh & the Bear Flag Revolt

John Marsh

"In the meanwhile Fremont took Sutter's Fort and dispatched some of his followers against Vallejo at Sonoma. There they took the garrison by surprise. One of their number issued a proclamation declaring California independent of Mexico and hoisted aloft a flag showing a grizzly bear upon a white field. The Californians mistook the bruin for a pig.

"Marsh received this news through an express from Fort Sutter. It filled him with dismay. Like all old settlers, he was greatly startled by the Sonoma action, and blamed Fremont for putting it in motion, knowing it meant the end of all good feeling between the Californians and the resident Americans."

From John Marsh, Pioneer by George D. Lyman (1930).

McNeils' California Songbook Cover

This is the cover of Keith & Rusty McNeils' 2001 California Songbook, showing on its cover the California Bear Flag.

Topsy Turvy Bear Flag in Bakersfield

This is a March 4, 2010 photograph of the Bear Flag flying upside down at the Kern County Superior Court in Bakersfield, CA. Oooops! Cuffy loves that blood rushing to his head anyway.

Will Governor Arnold attend the Sonoma Bear Flag Celebration?

"On Monday, March 1, 2010, the SonomaNews reported: 'The [Sonoma City] council will also be asked, at the request of Councilmember Ken Brown, to once again extend an invitation to Gov. Schwarzenegger to attend the city's annual Flag Day celebration on June 13. The governor was invited last year to attend the raising of the Bear Flag, but his schedule did not permit it.'"

An Old Bear Flag from ebay

This is a photograph of a Bear Flag which recently sold on ebay. See that the bear is quite different from the present Bear Flag bear. Also notice that there really is no grass plat. This flag sold for $199.

Bear Flag in Children's Book

These are photographs taken of a page in the children's book on California, "G is for Golden, A California Alphabet (2002), written by David Domeniconi, illustrated by Pam Carroll
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Sutter Monument with Bear Flag Emblem

These are photographs taken at Sutter's Fort, aka New Helvetia, in Sacramento, CA on February 6, 2010. This is a monument to John Sutter inside the Fort which displays a Swiss Flag emblem on the upper left and a Bear Flag emblem on the upper right.

Potsmouth Navy Officers 1846

From Wilcox History of the Mexican War (1892)

"Roster of Navy Officers, Pacific Squadron 1846

SLOOP PORTSMOUTH.

[20 Guns. Sailed from Norfolk January 25, 1845.]

Com. John B. Montgomery.
Lt. John S. Missroon.
Lt. Richard Forrest.
Lt. Woodhull S. Schenck.
Lt. Washington A. Bartlett.
Surg. Wm. Maxwell Wood.
Asst Surg. Charles H. Oakley.
Purser James H. Watmough.
Marine Officer, 2d Lt. Henry B. Watson.
Mid. Hunter Davidson.
Mid. Edward C. Grafton.
Mid. Stauwix Ganzevoort.
Mid. Joseph Purrish.
Mid. James llcrron.
Mid. Daniel C. Hugunin.
Boatswain Robert, Whittaker.
Gunner Andrew A. Randall.
Carpenter George Wisner.
Sailmaker David Bruce."

A Bear Flag Door in Midtown Sacramento

These are photographs taken on February 6, 2010 in Midtown Sacramento, California of the doorway to a a second story apartment showing the NORCAL brand Bear Flag.

Bear Flag & Sailor Sculpture

This is a June 2008 photograph from Flickr taken by bmkorte showing the Bear Flag and a lone sailor sculpture

Bear Flag on 1904 Cover of Launching Program Cruiser CALIFORNIA

This a photograph of the cover of the Souvenir Program from April 28, 1904 Launching of the Armored Cruiser California, sponsored by the Native Sons of the Golden West. The program shows the Bear Flag in the lower corners. The NSGW gave a Bear Flag to the USS California as well as a State Flag. The State Flag was a blue field with the California State Seal on the center of the flag.