The Michigan state seal was designed in 1835 by Lewis Cass and depicts a man holding a gun and a peace symbol, with an eagle above holding an olive branch and three arrows. It can only be used on 15 official documents and at government events. The state motto, Teubor, means “I will defend.” The coat of arms can be used on official documents and some tourist items, but not for commercial purposes. Michigan is known as the Great Lakes State and has a large amount of water coverage.
Legislatures adopted the Michigan state seal at the state constitutional convention in 1835. It was designed by Lewis Cass, the second governor of the Michigan territory, who based his design on a seal used in advertising by the Hudson’s Bay Fur Company . The Michigan state seal was last modified in 1911 and may only be used on 15 official documents and displayed at official government events.
The state seal of Michigan depicts a man inside a blue shield looking out over a peninsula where the sun rises. He raises his right hand in a peace symbol, but holds a gun in his left hand to indicate a willingness to defend the state. The shield is flanked by designs of a moose to one side and a moose to the other. Atop the Michigan state seal, the American eagle holds an olive branch and three arrows in its talons, which also represent peace and the right to protect the state.
Michigan’s state seal also contains its motto, Teubor, defined as “I will defend.” Directly above the eagle image, the national motto of the United States appears as E Pluribus Unum, which means “among many, one.” Other words on the seal are translated from Latin as “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you.” Along the border of the seal run the words “The Great Seal of the State of Michigan AD MDCCCXXXV”.
When this border is removed, it forms the coat of arms of Michigan. In a long series of descriptions, the Michigan Constitution explains when and how the state seal can be used. Only 15 state documents can be stamped with the Michigan state seal, but fewer rules apply to the coat of arms.
The coat of arms appears on a variety of official documents, but may not be reproduced for commercial purposes. Exceptions exist for stationery and other items not advertised for sale, as long as the symbol is not combined with any other emblem or wording. These laws allow for the coat of arms on items typically purchased by tourists, such as postcards and key chains.
Michigan is known as the Great Lakes State for its five major lakes and more than 11,000 inland lakes. The Upper and Lower Peninsulas are divided by Lake Michigan and connected by the Mackinac Bridge. Very few residents live on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, which is mostly forest. Nearly half of the state of Michigan is covered by water.
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