State Symbols of California
Official Emblems & Symbols
By Nora Kirkeby
Jul 2, 2004, 2:29pm
A List of the California State Symbols by Category
California Art and Theatre Symbols
- California State Dance: West Coast Swing
- California State Fife and Drum Band: The California Consolidated Drum Band
- California State Folk Dance: Square Dance
- California State Poet Laureate
- California State Theatre: Pasadena Playhouse
California Botanical and Garden Symbols
- California State Flower: Golden Poppy
- California State Soil: San Joaquin Series
- California State Tree: California Redwood
California Geological and Archaeological Symbols
- California State Fossil: Smilodon californicus
- California State Gemstone: Benitoite
- California State Mineral: Gold
- California State Prehistoric Artifact: Chipped Stone Bear
- California State Rock: Serpentine
California Legislative Symbols
- California State Flag
- California State Seal
- California State Seal (Civil War)
- California State Song: I Love You California
California Living Symbols (Animals and Fauna)
- California State Animal: Grizzly Bear
- California State Bird: California Quail
- California State Butterfly: California Dogface
- California State Fish: Golden Trout
- California State Marine Fish: Garibaldi
- California State Marine Mammal: Gray Whale
- California State Reptile: Desert Tortoise
California Location Symbols
- California State Gold Rush Ghost Town: Bodie
California Miscellaneous Symbols
- California State Historical Society: California Historical Society
- California State Tall Ship: Californian
- California State Tartan
State Symbols Learning Links
State Insignia
This extensive list of California state insignia is based on information from the California Blue Book and the California State Archives. Here are direct links to a few of the more popular symbols:
State Bird
State Flower
State Tree
State Flag
State Seal
Source: California State Library
2025 State of California Symbols & Emblems
This list of the symbols of California is courtesy of the Secretary of State of California.
Source: California Roster 2025
Additional Learning Links
California Pollinators Color by Number Coloring Pages
Make a fish, color an alien, or do one of the other coloring activities available here.
Source: The Department of Fish and Game
California Symbols Word Search
Find as many state symbols as you can in this fun word search puzzle.
Source: State of California Capitol Museum