This week, your Friday fact is Eureka. This word means “I have found it” in Greek and it’s the motto for the State of California. It refers to the gold rush of the 1800s. Gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in 1848. California became a state in 1850. The motto is featured on the seal of the state.
The interesting thing about the use of this word as California’s motto is that it’s supposedly the word that Archimedes in ancient Greece said when he discovered the method for determining the purity of gold. Someone very clever in California picked the perfect state motto for them. And someone equally clever named that television show by the same name.
Now, you may be asking why I’m suddenly talking about California. I’m heading there in April with my cousin. Going to stay a couple of nights on the Queen Mary and am so excited as this is a sister ship to my beloved Mauretania featured in my novel Redemption for the Devil. Gonna take the interior tour, perhaps find a ghost and maybe plot another novel!! AND I hope to meet the editor in chief, the art director and a couple of the writers for Desert Breeze Publishing. Am very psyched about that.
Jillian Chantal 
I knew that was the name of the haunted ship! When I saw you mention it on Twitter, I wondered. You’re a lot braver than I am *shivers* Ghost Adventures filmed there and really weird stuff happened. LOL Good luck with that 😉
By: danicaavet on February 4, 2011
at 8:19 am
Gonna be fun! I saw the episode of whence ye speak! I can’t wait. I’ve been to our haunted lighthouse here and had some awesome experiences.
By: Jillian Chantal on February 4, 2011
at 8:36 am
Eureka is a great word. A Jeopardy contestant this week was named Eureka. Love it when Friday Facts includes word history. The trip sounds fabulous.
By: Darlene on February 4, 2011
at 3:31 pm
Thanks Darlene- Here’s hoping for nice weather in LA in March!
By: Jillian Chantal on February 4, 2011
at 6:22 pm
I love the word, Eureka. 🙂 I always look forward to your Friday Facts. 🙂
By: Ciara Knight on February 4, 2011
at 4:35 pm
Thanks Ciara! Glad to hear you enjoy them- sometimes they come easy, other times, I have to really dig deep for them. LOL!
By: Jillian Chantal on February 4, 2011
at 6:16 pm