Florida’s original state seal, designed in 1865, depicted a steamboat, a cocoa tree, and a Native American woman. Revisions in 1970 made the woman more representative of the Seminole tribe and replaced cacao with the palm tree. Florida’s state symbols include the orange blossom and the manatee. The state was first explored by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513 and became a state in 1845. Today, Florida is known for its citrus industry and tourism.
Florida’s original state seal was designed in 1865 and approved by the state legislature, which voted that the round seal be no larger than a silver dollar. The circular seal showed the sun’s rays in the background, with a steamboat and a cocoa tree. It also depicted a Native American woman tossing blooming flowers near the shoreline. The image is surrounded by the words “The Great Seal of the State of Florida – In God We Trust,” which represents the state motto.
Revisions to the Florida state seal occurred in 1970 to make the Indian woman more representative of the state’s native Seminole tribe. The previous image looked like a Plains Indian. This redesign also removed a headdress shown on the previous seal because only male Seminole Indians wore these accessories. The palm tree replaced cacao on the Florida state seal, as it was considered the official state tree.
It was 20 years after Florida became a state in 1845 that a Florida state seal was adopted. Nicknamed “The Sunshine State,” Florida became a territory in 1821, when Tallahassee was chosen as the capital. It became the 27th state much later.
Florida’s state seal also appears on its flag, centered on a red cross on a white background, adopted in 1900. Its state bird is the thrush, and the manatee is designated a marine mammal of Florida. The marine mammal is the dolphin and the marine fish is represented by the sailfish. Other official state symbols include the orange blossom as the state flower and the agate coral as the state stone.
Calusa Indians inhabited Florida thousands of years ago, before European explorers discovered the state. Juan Ponce de Leon recorded the first detailed account when he landed in Florida in 1513. He called the place La Florida, which represented the flower festival in Spain in the spring. Other explorers soon followed, looking for gold, some of whom traveled as far as Mexico. The French arrived in 1562 and began establishing communities.
William D. Moseley became Florida’s first governor in the late 19th century. The state began to develop a reputation for agriculture, especially livestock. Phosphate and sponge industries also sprang up, attracting immigrants from other areas. Today, Florida is known for its citrus industry and tourism. Orange juice represents the state drink.
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