French settlers were in Minnesota for centuries before Swedish and Norwegian pioneers. The state motto, L’Etoile du Nord, meaning “The North Star,” was chosen by Henry Sibley, the state’s first governor. The state seal, designed by Seth Eastman, depicts the motto on a banner. Minnesota is also known as The North Star State and the […]
The California state motto “Eureka” refers to the discovery of gold by James Wilson Marshall in 1848, which sparked the first major gold rush in the US. The state seal bears the word “Eureka,” and the official state motto was adopted in 1963. Marshall’s childhood home in Lambertville, NJ, is now a museum, and he […]
Kansas’ state motto, “Ad astra per aspera,” means “to the stars through hardship” and reflects the state’s hardworking spirit. It was created by John J. Ingalls, a Massachusetts antislavery activist, and appears on the state’s great seal alongside other symbols of Kansas’ history. The phrase has origins in Roman poetry and has been used as […]
Hawaii’s state motto, “Ua Mau ke Ea o Aina ai ka Pono,” was born out of conflict in the 19th century when a British sea captain seized Honolulu. King Kamehameha III’s impassioned speech upon the return of sovereignty to the islands included the phrase, which later became the state motto. It symbolizes Hawaii’s resistance to […]
In the 1930s, J. Roy Strickland wrote a column in the Evansville Courier asking for suggestions for Indiana’s state motto. The General Assembly chose “The Crossroads of America” due to Indiana’s significant transportation connections. It is also the state slogan and is featured on the state quarter and flag. Other official symbols include the cardinal, […]
The Illinois state motto, “Sovereignty of the State, National Union,” had a powerful symbolic meaning during the Civil War. The issue of state sovereignty and federal power has been a major issue since America’s inception, and the Illinois state seal has undergone changes to reflect this. The motto’s wording caused controversy, and Illinois Secretary of […]
Louisiana’s state motto, “Union, Justice, Confidence,” was adopted in 1902. Its origin is unknown, but it reflects the unity and belief in justice of Louisiana residents. The state seal and flag feature the brown pelican, a symbol dating back to the state’s first governor, William CC Claiborne. Governor Heard is credited with choosing the pelican […]
New Jersey’s unofficial state motto is “Liberty and Prosperity” and is featured on the state seal and flag. The state has several unofficial nicknames, including “The Garden State” and “The Switzerland of America.” New Jersey also has various state symbols, including the horse, eastern goldfinch, knobby whelk, brook trout, blueberry, purple violet, and red oak. […]
Oregon’s state motto, “She flies on her wings,” was written by Judge Quinn Thornton in 1854 and was replaced with “The Union” in 1957. It was changed back to the original motto in 1987. The state seal features the previous motto and symbolic images, while the state flag is double-sided with a representation of the […]
Michigan’s state motto is “Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice”, meaning “if you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you”. It was chosen in 1835 and appears on the state coat of arms and Great Seal of the State of Michigan. The coat of arms features a man on a shoreline, the words “Tuebor”, and a […]
Georgia’s state seal has two sides, with “Wisdom, Justice, Moderation” on one and “Agriculture and Commerce” on the other. The former is considered the state motto and represents the three branches of government, while the latter is often mistaken as a motto but is actually just a proclamation. The seal has remained unchanged since 1799, […]
Oklahoma’s state motto, “Labor Omnia Vincit”, meaning “Labour Conquers all Things”, was inspired by Roman poet Virgil’s “Labor omina uicit improbus”. The state seal features five Indian tribe seals and 45 stars, while the flag has an Osage warrior’s shield. The state’s official game bird is the wild turkey, and the official butterfly is the […]
Mississippi’s state motto is Virtute et Armis, meaning “of valor and weapons”. It has been part of the official coat of arms since 1894 and is a common practice to incorporate Latin phrases on government bodies and institutions. Virtute refers to positive traits essential to manhood, such as strength and fortitude. Mississippi’s state motto is […]
Nevada’s state motto, “All for Our Country,” has uncertain origins, but it is believed to be related to the state’s entry into the Union during the Civil War. The popular myth that Nevada was admitted to the Union for its mineral wealth is debunked by former state archivist Guy Rocha. Nevada’s flag displays the nickname […]
Maryland’s state motto, “Fatti masculine, Parole femine,” means “Strong deeds, kind words.” It is written on the state seal, which includes the Crossland and Calvert family arms. The state also has various symbols, including the redfish, blue crab, Baltimore oriole, and black-eyed Susan. Maryland’s state motto is unique because, unlike other state mottos, it is […]
Tennessee’s state motto is “Agriculture and Commerce,” adopted in 1987 from the Tennessee Great Seal. The seal was first created in 1801, and the current version was introduced in 1869. Tennessee’s unofficial nickname is “The Volunteer State,” and it has various state symbols, including the thrush, raccoon, and zebra swallowtail. Tennessee’s state motto is “Agriculture […]
Marie Bankhead Owen, who worked alongside her husband at the Alabama Department of Archives and History, suggested the state motto “Audemus Jura Nostra Defendere” in 1923. It means “We dare to stand up for our rights” and was chosen as the second state motto after the original, “Here We Rest,” was deemed too weak. The […]
Texas state motto is “Friendship,” derived from the name of a native Indian tribe, Caddo. The state flag has three colors, and the lone star represents independence from Mexico. Texas has other official state symbols, including three state mammals, a state bird, a state flower, a state bug, and a state reptile. The state motto […]
Pennsylvania’s state motto, “Virtue, Liberty, and Independence,” was adopted in 1875 and reflects the state’s history as one of the original colonies and its role in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. The motto is featured on the state emblem and flag and represents the state’s desire to work together for the […]
New York’s state motto, “Excelsior,” means “always to the top” in Latin. It represents the zeal of New Yorkers to strive for higher goals. The state seal and flag feature the motto, along with other symbols such as Liberty and Justice, the state bird, fish, and flower. Unofficial nicknames for the state include “The Excelsior […]
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