| Symbolism : Alabama |
 24 May 2006 |
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The Great Seal of Alabama is the state seal of the U.S. state of Alabama. It was designed in 1817 by William Wyatt Bibb, the governor of the Alabama Territory and the subsequent first governor of the state. When Alabama became a state in 1819, the state legislature adopted the design as the official state seal. The seal prominently features a map showing one of the state's most valuable resources—its... |
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| Symbolism : Alaska |
24 May 2006 |
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The Alaska State Seal was first adopted before statehood, when the area was known as the District of Alaska. The first governor designated a seal of the district, which featured glaciers, northern lights, igloos, and an Eskimo ice fishing.
In 1910, this seal was replaced with a design more representative of the state's industrial and natural wealth. Today's seal contains rays above the mountains... |
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| Symbolism : Arizona |
24 May 2006 |
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The flag of Arizona consists of 13 rays of red and gold (the conquistador colors) on the top half, representing the original 13 colonies, as well as portraying Arizona's legendary sunsets. There is a copper colored star in the center signifying Arizona's copper-mining industry. The lower half is the same color blue as in the flag of the United States.
The state flag of Arizona was adopted on February... |
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| Symbolism : Arkansas |
24 May 2006 |
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The Arkansas State Seal was adopted in 1864, and in its present form in 1907. The outer ring of the seal contains the text "Great Seal of the State of Arkansas". The inner seal contains the Angel of Mercy, the Sword of Justice and the Goddess of Liberty surround a bald eagle. The eagle holds in its beak a scroll inscribed with the Latin phrase "Regnat Populus", the state motto, which means "The People... |
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| Symbolism : California |
24 May 2006 |
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The Seal of California was adopted at the California state Constitutional Convention of 1849 and redesigned in 1937. The seal features Minerva, the goddess of wisdom; a California grizzly bear (the official state animal) feeding on grape vines, representing California wine production; a sheaf of grain, representing agriculture; a miner, representing the California Gold Rush and the mining industry;... |
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| Symbolism : Colorado |
26 May 2006 |
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The circular Seal of the State of Colorado is an adaptation of the Territorial Seal which was adopted by the First Territorial Assembly on November 6, 1861. The only changes made in the Territorial Seal design being the substitution of the words, "State of Colorado" and the figures "1876" for the corresponding inscriptions on the territorial seal. The first General Assembly of the State of Colorado... |
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| Symbolism : Connecticut |
26 May 2006 |
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The first seal of Connecticut was brought from England by Colonel George Fenwick in 1639. It was the seal of the Saybrook Colony and was turned over to the Connecticut Colony at about the time that it purchased the land and fort at Saybrook Point from Colonel Fenwick in 1644. The seal was used by the General Court (General Assembly) from that time forward, but there is no clear record of who had custody... |
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| Symbolism : Delaware |
26 May 2006 |
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The Seal of Delaware was first adopted on January 17, 1777, with the current version being adopted April 29, 2004. It contains the state coat of arms surrounded by an inscription.
At the center of the coat of arms is a shield of horizontal red, blue and white stripes. On the red stripe is a sheaf of wheat and a cob of corn. On the white stripe is an ox standing on grass. Above the shield is a sailing ship. Supporting the shield are a farmer on the left and a soldier on the ri... |
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| Symbolism : Florida |
26 May 2006 |
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The Great Seal of the State of Florida is used to represent the Government of the State of Florida, and for various official purposes, such as to seal official documents and legislation. It is also commonly used on state government buildings, vehicles and other effects of the state government. It also appears on the State Flag of Florida.
The seal features a Seminole Native American woman spreading flowers in the foreground, a sabal palm, which is the Florida State Tree, alon... |
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| Symbolism : Georgia |
26 May 2006 |
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The Seal of Georgia was originally adopted in 1798 as part of the State Constitution, though it has been modified since. Its specifications are currently spelled out by statute.
The obverse (front) of the seal is centered around an arch with three pillars, the arch symbolizing the state's Constitution and the pillars representing the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.... |
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| Symbolism : Hawaii |
26 May 2006 |
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The current design of the Seal of Hawaii was commissioned by the Republic of Hawaii, derived from several features of the heraldry of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Upon United States annexation in 1898 and the creation of an American civil authority in 1900, the words Territory of Hawaii replaced the republican title. With the passage of the Admission Act in 1959, the words State of Hawaii were emblazoned... |
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| Symbolism : Idaho |
06 Jul 2006 |
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The flag of Idaho consists of the state seal on a field of blue. The words "State of Idaho" appear in gold letters on a red and gold band below the seal. According to the official description of the flag, there should also be a fringe of gold around the edges, but many versions of the flag do not include this detail.
The seal, in the center of the flag, depicts a miner and a woman representing... |
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| Symbolism : Illinois |
06 Jul 2006 |
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The Great Seal of the State of Illinois was first adopted in 1819 by the first Illinois General Assembly. The first law authorizing the Great Seal required the Secretary of State of Illinois to procure and keep the seal. The first seal engraved was essentially a duplicate of the Great Seal of the United States. It was used until 1839, when it was recut. The seal designed in 1839 became the Second... |
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| Symbolism : Indiana |
06 Jul 2006 |
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The seal of Indiana has gone through several revisions since the region was a part of the Northwest Territory. The current design was standardized by the Indiana General Assembly in 1963. It depicts a woodsman chopping a sycamore tree, while an American Bison runs in the foreground and the sun sets in the background. The leaves of the state tree, the tulip, are in the border design.
The flag of... |
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| Symbolism : Iowa |
06 Jul 2006 |
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The Great Seal of Iowa pictures a citizen soldier standing in a wheat field surrounded by farming and industrial tools, with the Mississippi River in the background. An eagle overhead bears the state motto.
The Seal of Iowa is described carefully under Iowa Code 1A.1 in the following: "The secretary of state be, and is, hereby authorized to procure a seal which shall be the great seal of the state... |
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| Symbolism : Kansas |
06 Jul 2006 |
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The Kansas state seal 2 tells the history of Kansas.
The seal contains:
Landscape with a rising sun (the east)
River and steamboat (commerce)
Settler's cabin and a man plowing a field (agriculture) [foreground]
Wagon train heading west (American expansion / pioneer life)
Indians hunting American Bison (the buffalo are fleeing from the Indians)
Cluster of 34 stars (top of the seal)
State... |
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| Symbolism : Kentucky |
07 Jul 2006 |
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The Kentucky State Seal was adopted in December of 1792. The seal is a rendition of two men, one in buckskin, and the other in more formal dress. The men are facing each other and clasping hands. The outer ring of the seal is adorned with the words "Commonwealth of Kentucky", and within the inner circle is the state motto "United we stand, Divided we fall."
Popular belief claims that the buckskin-clad... |
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| Symbolism : Louisiana |
07 Jul 2006 |
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The Louisiana State Seal was adopted as the official state seal of Louisiana in 1902. The seal is a depiction of a mother Brown Pelican (the Official State Bird) tending to three young chicks in their nest. In more detailed representations the mother pelican is shown tearing flesh from her breast in order to feed her young ("in her piety"). Though the number of chicks has varied over the years, anywhere... |
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| Symbolism : Maine |
07 Jul 2006 |
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The State Seal of Maine was adopted in June of 1820. There have been variations in the details of the seal, but the overall design and images remain true to the original. The center of the seal is a shield adorned with a tranquil scene of a moose resting in a field bordered by water and woods, with a pine tree standing tall directly behind the moose. On either side of the shield, a farmer rests on... |
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| Symbolism : Maryland |
07 Jul 2006 |
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The Great Seal of Maryland is the official government emblem of the State of Maryland in the United States. Its official service is to authenticate acts by the Maryland General Assembly, but it is also used for display purposes at most state buildings. Although the state seal has been changed in design several times throughout history, the current model represents the reverse side of the original... |
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| Symbolism : Massachusetts |
07 Jul 2006 |
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The Seal of Massachusetts contains the coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a U.S. State. The coat of arms is encircled by the text "Sigillum Reipublicae Massachusettensis" ("Seal of the Republic of Massachusetts").
The seal was adopted on by the Provincial Congress December 13, 1780. The shield depicts an Algonquin Native American with bow and arrow; the arrow is pointed downward,... |
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| Symbolism : Michigan |
07 Jul 2006 |
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The seal of Michigan depicts the state's coat-of-arms on a dark blue field. On the light blue shield the sun rises over a lake and peninsula, a man with raised hand and holding a long gun represents peace and the ability to defend his rights. The elk and moose are symbols of Michigan, while the bald eagle represents the United States.
The flag of the U.S. state of Michigan depicts the state's... |
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| Symbolism : Minnesota |
07 Jul 2006 |
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The Great Seal of the State of Minnesota is the insignia that the secretary of state affixes to government papers and documents to make them official. A seal for the territory of Minnesota was adopted in 1849 and approved by Governor Alexander Ramsey and the territorial legislature. When Minnesota became a state on May 11, 1858, there was no official state seal and, according to law, no official act... |
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| Symbolism : Mississippi |
07 Jul 2006 |
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The Mississippi State Seal was adopted in 1798, when Mississippi was a United States territory, the Mississippi Territory. When it became a state in 1817, the same seal was designated as the state's seal.
The eagle is proudly positioned in the center of the seal, with its wings spread wide and its head held high. Stars and stripes adorns its chest. In its talons, the eagle grasps an olive branch... |
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| Symbolism : Missouri |
10 Jul 2006 |
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The Missouri State Seal was adopted on January 11, 1822. Judge Robert William Wells, who was also a congressman, designed the seal. The center of the seal contains the bald eagle, symbol of the nation on the right side, and, on the left, symbols representing the state. A grizzly bear represents strength and bravery; a crescent moon represents the newness of statehood and the potential for growth.... |
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| Symbolism : Montana |
10 Jul 2006 |
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The Montana State Seal was adopted in 1865, when Montana was a United State Territory. When it became a state in 1889, it was decided to use the same seal. In 1891, proposals where made to make changes or a brand new seal. Non of these proposals passed legislation. The outer ring of the seal contains the text "The Great Seal of the State of Montana". The inner circle contains a shovel, a pick, and... |
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| Symbolism : Nebraska |
10 Jul 2006 |
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The Nebraska State Seal was adopted in 1867. A railroad train steams across the background, with mountains in the distance. A steamboat plies the waters of the Missouri River. A simple cabin and sheaves of harvested wheat portray the importance of settlers and agriculture. A blacksmith works at his anvil in the foreground. At the top of the seal a banner holds the motto "Equality Before the Law",... |
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| Symbolism : Nevada |
10 Jul 2006 |
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The Nevada State Seal is derived from the seal of the Territory of Nevada. As Nevada prepared for statehood in 1864, its Constitutional Convention began to formalize the features of the state's official seal. Nevada was admitted as a state on October 31, 1864 by proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln. On February 24, 1866, the motto "Volens et Potens" was replaced by "All for Our Country". The... |
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| Symbolism : New Hampshire |
10 Jul 2006 |
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New Hampshire has held two seals since it declared its independence from Britain prior to the United State's Declaration of Independence. Both seals have been retained, though most people are only familiar with the Great Seal.
On July 1, 1774, the First Provincial Congress met for the first time in Exeter, and subsequently they discarded every "royal," including the previous "George the III" seal.
In... |
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| Symbolism : New Jersey |
11 Jul 2006 |
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The Great Seal of the State of New Jersey includes:
A shield with three plows emblazoned, representative of New Jersey's agricultural tradition.
A forward-facing knight's helmet.
A horse's head as the crest of the helmet.
The female figures Liberty and Ceres, representative of the state's motto (see next item). Liberty is holding a staff supporting a "liberty cap"; Ceres is holding an overflowing... |
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| Symbolism : New Mexico |
11 Jul 2006 |
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The Great Seal of New Mexico is the official seal of the U.S. State of New Mexico and was adopted in 1913.
When New Mexico became a state in 1912, the Legislature named a Commission for the purpose of designing a State Seal. In June 1913, the Commission, which consisted of Governor William C. McDonald, Attorney General Frank W. Clancy, Chief Justice Clarence J. Roberts and Secretary of State Antonio... |
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| Symbolism : New York |
11 Jul 2006 |
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The Seal of New York is almost the same as the flag, but in a seal. The goddess Justice symbolizes freedom before the law. She is shown with a blindfold over her eyes, and is also holding the scales of justice in her left hand. The goddess Liberty, who symbolizes freedom, holds a pole with a liberty cap, which symbolizes freedom from Britain after the American Revolutionary War. There is a shield... |
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| Symbolism : North Carolina |
11 Jul 2006 |
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The Great Seal of North Carolina was standardized in design by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1971:
"The Governor shall procure of the State a Seal, which shall be called the great seal of the State of North Carolina, and shall be two and one-quarter inches in diameter, and its design shall be a representation of the figures of Liberty and Plenty, looking toward each other, but not more... |
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| Symbolism : North Dakota |
11 Jul 2006 |
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The Great Seal of North Dakota is the official seal of the state of North Dakota.
As with many state symbols the Great Seal has been subject to wide interpretation as the state has done little to standardize the design. The image used by Wikipedia comes from the state's website.
The design for the flag of North Dakota is an almost exact copy of the unit banner carried by the state's troop contingent... |
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| Symbolism : Ohio |
12 Jul 2006 |
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The Great Seal of the State of Ohio features Ohio's coat of arms surrounded by the words, "THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF OHIO". Ohio's coat of arms features a full sheaf of wheat, symbolizing agriculture and bounty; a cluster of seventeen arrows, symbolizing Ohio's admittance as the seventeenth of the United States of America; a representation of Mount Logan, Ross County, as viewed from the Adena... |
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| Symbolism : Oklahoma |
12 Jul 2006 |
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The Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma consists of a large five-pointed star containing the emblems of the Five Civilized Tribes in the points of each ray. The spaces between the five points were filled with forty-five smaller stars, representing the states of the Union, with the center star as the forty-sixth state.
The Oklahoma State Seal contains six seals. In the center of the large star is... |
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| Symbolism : Oregon |
12 Jul 2006 |
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The Oregon State Seal consists of an outer ring with the text "State of Oregon", "1859". The inner circle contains an eagle atop a shield. The shield contains mountains, an elk, a wagon, the Pacific Ocean, on which there are a British man-of-war departing and an American steamer arriving. The second quartering with a sheaf, plow and a pickax. The banner is inscribed "The Union". Thirty-three stars... |
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| Symbolism : Pennsylvania |
12 Jul 2006 |
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The Pennsylvania State Seal has a central image of a shield containing a ship under full sail, a plow, and three sheaves of wheat. These symbols represent the importance of commerce, labor, perseverance, and agriculture to the state's economy. On either side of the shield are a stalk of Indian corn and an olive branch, representing the state's recognition of its past and hopes for the future. Atop... |
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| Symbolism : Rhode Island |
13 Jul 2006 |
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The Rhode Island State Seal features a maritime anchor as its central image. The anchor has been used as a symbol for Rhode Island for hundreds of years, well before the region claimed statehood. The word "Hope" was placed over the seal's anchor in 1644, and still remains. The outer circle of the seal reads Seal of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations 1636.
The flag of Rhode Island... |
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| Symbolism : South Carolina |
13 Jul 2006 |
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The South Carolina State Seal was adopted in 1776. The seal is made up of two elliptical areas, linked by branches of the palmetto tree. The image on the left is dominated by a tall palmetto tree and another tree, fallen and broken. This scene represents the battle fought on June 28, 1776 between defenders of the unfinished fort on Sullivan's Island, and the British Fleet. Of course, the standing... |
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| Symbolism : South Dakota |
13 Jul 2006 |
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The South Dakota State Seal was designed while the area was a territory, in 1885. The outter ring of the seal contains the text "State of South Dakota" on the top and "Great Seal" on the bottom. Also the year of statehood, 1889. Inside the inner circle of the seal contains the state motto "Under God the People Rule". The picture features hills, a river with a boat, a farmer, a mine, and cattle. The... |
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| Symbolism : Tennessee |
13 Jul 2006 |
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An official Great Seal of Tennessee is provided for the in the Constitution of the State of Tennessee of February 6, 1796. However, design was not undertaken until 25 September 1801.
The Roman numerals XVI, representing Tennessee as the 16th state to enter the United States, is found at the top of the seal.
The images of a plow, a bundle of wheat, a cotton plant, and the word "Agriculture" below... |
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| Symbolism : Texas |
13 Jul 2006 |
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The Seal of Texas was adopted in 1845 by the Texas State Constitution from an original design of the Republic of Texas seal. It states, "There shall be a seal of the State, which shall be kept by the Governor and used by him officially. The said seal shall be a star of five points, encircled by an olive and live oak branches, and the words 'the State of Texas.'" Dr. Charles Stewart, a resident of... |
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| Symbolism : Utah |
14 Jul 2006 |
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Great Seal of the State of Utah adopted April 3, 1896, at the first regular session of the Legislature (January, February, March, April 1896). The seal was designed by Harry Edwards; the original seal cost $65.00. The great seal is described in Utah Code Annotated, 1953, Volume 7a, section 67-2-9 as follows:
"The Great Seal of the State of Utah shall be two and one-half inches in diameter, and... |
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| Symbolism : Vermont |
14 Jul 2006 |
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The Seal of Vermont is an official seal used by the U.S. State of Vermont. On the seal is a depiction of a pine tree rising from the forest, with two grain sheaves above it. A cow on the right, presumably representing Vermont's dairy industry, also appears. On the top of the seal are clouds; on the bottom is water with the words "freedom and unity"—Vermont's state motto—above it. The seal dates from... |
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| Symbolism : Virginia |
17 Jul 2006 |
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The Seal of Virginia is the official symbol of the state. In May of 1776 the colony of Virginia declared its independence from England. On the first day of July, 1776, a committee of four was appointed to make a proper seal for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The four men were Richard Henry Lee, George Mason, George Wythe, and Robert Carter Nicholas. Four days later the committee's report for a design of the seal was read, and George Mason presented it to the Virginia governmen... |
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| Symbolism : Washington |
17 Jul 2006 |
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The Washington state seal contains a portrait of George Washington, painted by Gilbert Stuart. The outer ring contains the text "The Seal of the State of Washington" "1889".
The flag of Washington consists of the state seal (which bears an image of George Washington) on a field of dark green with gold fringe being optional. It is the only U.S. state flag with a field of green as well as the only state flag with the image of an American president.... |
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| Symbolism : West Virginia |
18 Jul 2006 |
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The West Virginia State Seal was adopted in 1863. The center of the seal contains a boulder that has been inscribed June 20, 1863, the date West Virginia became a state. In front of the boulder lies two crossed rifles and a Liberty Cap to state the State's importance of fighting for liberty. The two men on either side of the boulder represent agriculture and industry. On the left stands a farmer with an ax and plow before a cornstalk. On the other side stands a miner with a pickax, and ... |
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| Symbolism : Wisconsin |
18 Jul 2006 |
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The Secretary of State is the keeper of Wisconsin's great seal.
The Wisconsin State Seal contains:
Forward, the state motto, at its top
A badger, the state animal, immediately beneath this
A sailor and a miner, two of the most economically important industries/professions at the time of the state's founding in 1848. Farming did not come until much later - the Southeast Wisconsin area not being... |
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| Symbolism : Wyoming |
18 Jul 2006 |
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The Great Seal of the State of Wyoming was adopted by the second legislature in 1893, revised by the sixteenth legislature in 1921.
The two dates on the Great Seal, 1869 and 1890 commemorate the organization of the Territorial government and Wyoming's admission to the Union. The draped figure in the center holds a staff from which flows a banner bearing the words, "Equal Rights," and symbolizes the political status women have always enjoyed in Wyoming. The male figures typ... |
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