The Secret behind the Great Seal of California

The Great Seal of California was first adopted by our Golden State in 1849. Its contents consist of Athena the Greek goddess, the California brown bear, some boats (to show our economic power), some grapes, and a miner. All of these represented California and still do today, but not too many know its true origins.

The Seal of our State was originally designed by Robert S. Garnett, it was presented to us by Caleb Lyon (we will get into that later). Not too many people know Garnett was a high ranking officer in the Confederacy (Brigadier General). Yes you read that correctly he was on the side that fought for slavery and the for the same army that gave birth to the most dangerous terrorist group known to the United States, the Klu Klux Klan.

He fought in the Mexican-American war, the Indian wars, Seminole war, Yakima war, and he was finally killed in battle during the Civil War. Like we stated earlier he was the original designer of the seal of California that we still use today. Though it was a little different back then. Because he was in the Confederate army and at the time the military was having issues with the local law enforcement; he was not allowed to present his idea to the government (and California was not and ever was a United States territory until it became an official state) so he had the second governor of Idaho Caleb Lyon present this image as his own, which became accepted.

So what does this really mean, well no one is really sure because he was killed in battle but some speculate that all of California would actually belong the Confederacy or at least to Robert S. Garnett. Again, again this is just another interesting history post brought to you by the American Federation.