California “Cocktail Trivia”: Official State Designations

Do you like “cocktail trivia”? If so, did you know that California law lists over 35 items as official state designations? The California Government Code, Title 1, Section 2, Chapter 2 (titled “The State Flag and Emblems”) contains the following official state-designated items:

The bear flag is the state flag of California – Gov’t Code Sec. 420

“Eureka” is the state’s official motto, Gov’t Code Sec. 420.5

The Golden State is the state’s official nickname. 420.75

The golden poppy is the state’s official flower (and April 6th is Poppy Day in California) – Gov’t Code Sec. 421

The West Coast swing dance is the state’s official dance – Gov’t Code Sec. 421.5(a)

Square Dance is the official state folk dance – Gov’t Code Sec. 421.5 (b)

“I Love You, California” is the official state song – Gov’t Code Sec. 421.7

The California redwood is the official state tree – Gov’t Code Sec. 422

Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and pecans are the state’s official nuts – Art. 422.3

The California desert tortoise is the official state reptile. 422.5(a)

The Pacific leatherback sea turtle is the state’s official marine reptile. 422.5(b)

The California red-footed frog is the official state amphibian – Gov’t Code Sec. 422.7

The California Valley Quail is the official bird and avifauna emblem – Gov’t Code Sec. 423

“California” is the official sailing vessel of the state – Gov’t Code Sec. 423.5

Denim is the official state fabric – Gov’t Code Sec. 423.6

The official state colors are blue and gold – Gov’t Code Sec. 424

The official state tartan is described as a pattern of alternating squares of meadow green and Pacific blue – Gov’t Code Sec. 424.3

Californian dog muzzle on a stamp. (Photo: public domain)

The California dog-faced butterfly is the state’s official insect – Gov’t Code Sec. 424.5

Lacy lichen is the official state lichen – Government Code, Art. 424.6

Surfing is the state’s official sport. 424.7

The California grizzly bear is an animal of the state – art. 425

Native gold is the official state mineral – art. 425.1

Serpentine is the official rock of the state – Gov’t Code Sec. 425.2

Benitoite is the state’s official gemstone – Gov’t Code Sec. 425.3

The California gray whale is the official marine mammal of the state. 425.5

The Garibaldi is the state’s official marine fish. 425.6

Augustynolophus morrisi is the state’s official dinosaur – section 425.7(a) of the State Code.

Augustynolophus morrisi, official state of California, dinosaur. (Photo:

The saber-toothed cat is the state’s official fossil – Section 425.7(b) of the State Code.

The chipped stone bear is an official state prehistoric artifact – Gov’t Code Sec. 425.8

San Joaquin soil is the official state soil – Gov’t Code Sec. 425.9(b)

The purple needle is the official state herb – Art. government code. 425.10

The LGBTQ Veterans Memorial at Desert Memorial Park is the official state LGBTQ Veterans Memorial – Gov’t Code Sec. 429.4

The California Historical Society is the state’s official historical society, the Gov’t Code Sec. 429.5

The California State Military Museum and Resource Center is the official State Military Museum – Gov’t Code Sec. 429.6

Bodie is the official ghost town of the Gold Rush State – Gov’t Code Sec. 429.7

Calico is the official ghost town of the Silver Rush State – Gov’t Code Sec. 429.8

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in California is the official state Vietnam Veterans Memorial – Gov’t Code Sec. 429.9

What other subjects will the Legislative Assembly designate as official state subjects in the coming years?

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