California
Fun
Facts
ABOUT CALIFORNIA
The state motto of California is "Eureka," a Greek word meaning, "I have found it!" The motto was adopted in 1849 and alludes to the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada.
California is known variously as "The Land of Milk & Honey," "The El Dorado State," "The Golden State," and "The Grape State."
The state flower is the California Poppy, the state bird is the California Quail and the state animal is the California grizzly bear.
More turkeys are raised in California than in any other state in the United States.
Over 30,000,000 Legos® were used to construct the attractions and decorations at Legoland® in Carlsbad, California.
Death Valley in southern California is the lowest point in the United States at 282 feet below sea level. The highest point in the contiguous 48 states is also in California: Mount Whitney, which is 14,491 feet above sea level.
The hottest day ever in the United States was when the temperature hit 56.7 (135 F) degrees Celsius on July 10, 1913 at Death Valley, California.
Since Hollywood, California, was primarily a farming community before the movie industry exploded, courses in horticulture at Hollywood High School were popular. Farmers didn't wear ties to the field in 1911, but the students did.
During the California Gold Rush of 1849, miners sent their laundry to Honolulu for washing and pressing.
America's official national Christmas tree is located in King's Canyon National Park in California. The tree, a giant sequoia called the "General Grant Tree," is over 90 meters (300 feet) high. It was made the official Christmas tree in 1925.
"I
love California - I practically grew up in Phoenix."
- Dan Quayle
"The
coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."
- Mark Twain
The California Academy of Tauromaquia in San Diego is a world-renowned school for Matadors.
California consumes more bottled water than any other product.
Oakland,
California has the largest population of any California city with a name NOT
Spanish in origin, after Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco and
Sacramento.
Dick and Mac McDonald opened the first McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, California.
New gun control laws:
Saturday Night Special Law bans handguns that fail basic safety standards.
Trigger Lock Law requires that every new gun sold or manufactured in Californian have a child-proof safety lock.
Governor Davis also issued an Executive Order requiring State agencies to destroy all firearms confiscated or out-of-date.
California has prohibited the purchase of more than one handgun per month.
High-capacity magazines that are capable of holding more than 10 rounds are prohibited.
Persons moving to California who intend to bring with them any pistol, revolver or other concealable firearm must report the weapon or sell or transfer it to a licensed dealer or a law enforcement agency within 60 days.
