California Department of Parks and Recreation Site of original flagstaff where the American Flag was first raised by Commodore John Drake Sloat on July 7th 1846 taking possession of California in the name of the United States of America later ceded to America under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848 Dedicated January 21, 1997 by California State Park Commission and Grand Parlor Native Sons of the Golden West Funded by James A. Bailey Trust