California Flag Bear Leaving
The bear flag was flown for one month in the revolt against mexico before being replaced by the national stars and stripes flag.
California flag bear leaving. Republic with golden bear. The bear flag was given to young john e. In june 1846 in sonoma california the bear flag was flown for the first time by men who quickly became known as the bear flaggers named for their role during the bear flag revolt in sonoma. Mans cruelty towards one of the most magnificent beasts that walked the american continent can be summed up in the fate of monarch the california grizzly bear who started his life running free.
The bear flag first flew in 1846 as a symbol of the short lived california republic. The bears name is monarch. The bear named monarch was captured in 1889 by newspaper reporter allen kelley at the behest of william randolph hearstthe bear was subsequently moved to woodwards gardens in san francisco and then to the zoo at golden gate park. The bear symbol became a permanent part of the state seal in 1849.
Montgomery of the uss portsmouth who would later write in a letter to his mother cuffy came down growlingcuffy being his nickname for the bear on the flag. A second version was adopted as the state flag by the state legislature in 1911. The california grizzly bear was designated the official state animal in 1953. Embossed enameled lapel pin.
It wouldnt be until 1911 that the grizzly bear design would be adopted as a part of the official california state flag. Montgomery son of commander john b. The bear flag given to young montgomery returned with the uss portsmouth to the east coast of the us. The bear on one 1911 version of the flag is claimed to have been modeled on the last california grizzly bear in captivity.
In 1848 but in 1855 was returned to california.