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California Name Origin:
California became the 31st state in 1850 (see statehood order) -
California's state quarter features John Muir (early advocate for
conservation of U.S. wilderness), a California condor, Half Dome
(a granite dome in Yosemite National Park), a giant sequoia
(state tree), and captions of "John Muir" and "Yosemite Valley" -
public domain image on Wikipedia - see all 50 state quarters
What does the word California mean?
The name California originates from the Spanish conquistadors, taken from "Las Serges de Esplandian," a Spanish romance written about 1510 which describes an imaginary island; an earthly paradise. Baja California (lower California - now in Mexico) was first visited by the Spanish in 1533. Present-day California was called Alta California (upper California).
Sebastián Vizcaíno (1548-1624) - Spanish explorer, entrepreneur, soldier, and diplomat who traveled to New Spain, the Philippines, the Baja California peninsula, Alta California, and Japan (public domain image on Wikipedia)
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Source:
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California State Library
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Links:
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State Symbols USA is a nonprofit organization promoting
appreciation for our natural treasures and cultural heritage.
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