Contra Costa County Courthouse

Historical marker location:

625 Court Street, Martinez, California

( Marker is at the intersection of Court Street and Escobar Street, on the right when traveling north on Court Street.)

1901.

The state's name is derived from a novel called "Las Sergas de Esplandián," which was published in 1510. The book, written by Garci Rodríguez 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.