California Admission Day

September 9 is California Admission Day in the United States. It celebrates the time when California became the 31st state in 1850.

Is California Admission Day a Public Holiday?

This is a state public holiday. State government offices are closed. Some schools and businesses may also be closed on this day.

Celebrate California Admission Day

Some state public offices, organizations, businesses, museums and schools have special events to celebrate the state’s history on this day.

Public Life

California Admission Day is a legal observance but most public offices, schools, and businesses generally do not close. However, some municipalities in California observe it as a holiday with closed offices. This includes the City of Monterey, the site of the first California Constitutional Convention, held in 1849.

About California Admission Day

In 1849, leaders from around the future state of California drafted California’s first constitution, which was approved on November 13 that year by a vote of 12,064 to 811. In January, 1850, the State Legislature began its first two-year session. On September 9, 1850, California became the 31st entry into the Union.

On September 9, 1924, California’s “Bear Flag” flew over the White House to honor the date of California’s admission. In 1984, however, Governor George Deukmejian signed legislation changing its observance to a “personal” option. In recent times, Californian governors have made public proclamations, inviting the public to observe the day.