Historical Marker
Claremont Public Improvements
Historical marker location:
3069 Claremont Avenue, Berkeley, California
( Marker is at the intersection of Claremont Avenue and The Uplands on Claremont Avenue.)
Marker installed: 1998
John Galen Howard, Architect. 1905.
The state's name is derived from a novel called "Las Sergas de Esplandián," which was published in 1510. The book, written by Garci RodrÃguez de Montalvo, tells the story of a mythical island called California that is ruled by Queen Calafia and is said to be filled with gold and precious stones.