The California state seal was designed by Robert S. Garnett, a US Army officer, and introduced by Caleb Lyon due to political tensions. The design incorporates symbols representing California’s history and strengths, including a grizzly bear, miner, and ships. The design was approved in 1849 and has undergone minor revisions, with the 1937 version being the only legal seal. The physical seal is used by the governor and secretary of state to stamp official documents.
The history of the California state seal begins long before California became a state in 1850. It was designed by a US Army officer, but due to political and social problems, it was introduced by another man, with the approval of the creator. It was officially approved by the California Constitutional Convention, held in 1849. Its design incorporated period-specific references to the Union, reflecting its creator’s assumption that California would quickly be admitted as a state. It has since undergone numerous changes, most of them stylistic, without significantly changing any of the symbolic images or the layout of the design. The last of these changes was made in 1937
The creator of the California state seal was Robert S. Garnett. Garrett was a major in the United States Army, who would later accept a commissioning as a general in the Confederate Army at the start of the American Civil War. The drawing of him was engraved by Albert Kuner.
During this time in history, great enmity existed between the military and many of those involved in California politics. For this reason, Garnett believed that his design would be rejected by constitutional convention simply because he was created by a member of the military. To circumvent this possibility, he enlisted the help of Caleb Lyon, the official employee of the convention. Garnett’s proposed design for the seal was presented by Lyons as his.
Lyons presented a proposal for the design of the seal and an explanation of its symbols. The design depicts a landscape with a harbor or river dotted with sailing ships, with mountains in the background and a representation of the Roman god Minerva kneeling beside a grizzly bear in the right foreground. A miner works with a plectrum in the left foreground. A row of 31 stars, one for each state in the union at the time, follows the upper arc of the circular seal with the word “Eureka” appearing just below them. The words “The Great Seal of the State of California” were placed around the border of the seal.
Every element of the design was selected to have some relevance to the history of California and the pride of its citizens. Minerva was chosen to demonstrate that California became a state without first being designated a territory as was the norm. The grizzly bear, eating a bunch of grapes, represents the diversity of flora and fauna of the region, while the landscape showcases the wide variety of natural beauty found in the region. The miner, a sheaf of wheat, and ships indicate the strengths of California’s commerce, agriculture, and economy. The word “Eureka” refers to the discovery of gold in the region and the acceptance of California as a member of the United States.
Delegates at the convention debated the project and numerous changes were proposed by various members. Garnett’s original design did not include the grizzly bear or miner. Both were added by amendment.
Other proposed changes were rejected, and the design was approved in a vote on October 2, 1849. It was revised three separate times, most recently in 1937. Each revision made slight changes in detail without inherently changing any symbology or major elements. The 1937 revision was legislated and officially designated as the only legal seal.
The seal itself is a physical object and is used by the governor and the secretary of state to place an official stamp on documents, much like a notary’s stamp certifies documents. While there are countless representations of the California state seal, by state law there is, and can be, only one official physical seal. It consists of a two-part mold attached to a press which, when used, stamps the seal onto a document.
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