Photograph as originally submitted to this page in the Historical Marker Database www.HMdb.org. Click on photo to resize in browser. Scroll down to see metadata.

Photographer: Andrew Ruppenstein
Taken: March 22, 2010
Caption: The Great Seal of the State of California
Additional Description: The State Seal is set in the sidewalk directly in front of Colton Hall, the site where both the state constitution and seal were adopted in 1849. Per the California State Library: The Roman goddess of wisdom, Minerva, has at her feet a grizzly bear and clusters of grapes representing wildlife and agricultural richness. A miner works near the busy Sacramento River, below the Sierra Nevada peaks. The Greek word "Eureka" meaning "I have found it", probably refers to the miner's discovery of gold. Near the upper edge of the seal are 31 stars representing the number of states with California's anticipated admission. Just as Minerva sprung full-grown from the head of Jupiter, California became a state on September 9, 1850, without having to go through a territorial stage.
Submitted: July 28, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
Database Locator Identification Number: p119786
File Size: 1.547 Megabytes

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