Minnesota’s nickname is the “North Star State,” with the French translation “L’Etoile du Nord” appearing on the state seal and flag. Minnesota is the only US state with a French motto, possibly in honor of early French settlers. The state became the 32nd to join the US in 1858, and its seal and flag feature significant state symbols reflecting its history and motto.
The state nickname for the state of Minnesota is “North Star State.” This is the English translation and the most widely used translation for the official French L’Etoile du Nord which appears on other Minnesota state emblems: the state seal and flag. Minnesota is the only US state to have a motto in French. While the reason for this is not clearly known, most historians speculate that the choice of the French language is a deferential nod to the early French explorers, missionaries, and traders who settled the wilds of Minnesota before the region became a territory and a state of the United States. The motto “North Star State” refers to Minnesota as the northernmost state in the United States.
Minnesota lies north of all contiguous US states, its right border extending toward Great Lake Superior. Native American tribes populated the land until traders and missionaries from France and explorers from England arrived in the 1600s. After the American Revolutionary War, part of the land was incorporated into the United States of America. Minnesota became the 32nd state to join the United States in 1858.
As the new official state of the Union, a state seal was required for the signing and notarization of government documents and invoices. Governor Henry Sibley designed the new seal, originally inscribed with a Latin phrase: Quae sursum volo videre, or “I want to see above.” Due to an error during the engraving process, the Latin phrase was changed to read Quo sursum velo vide, a nonsense phrase that loosely translated meant “I cover to see above.” The Minnesota Legislature, unwilling to officialize an erroneous state seal, rejected the motto. Governor Sibley recreated the phrase, choosing French as his preferred language. The Etoile du Nord, or “North Star State” was passed and adopted by the Minnesota Legislature in 1861.
The state seal and flag are filled with significant state symbols that draw the history of Minnesota and the meaning of the state motto. A barefoot farmer tills the fertile Minnesota land near the banks of the Mississippi River. A Native American rides a pony into the sunset. The Etoile du Nord floats on a golden banner above the scene. The state flag reflects the seal scene but is also surrounded by 19 stars, representing Minnesota as the 19th state in the union. The largest and tallest star on the flag stands for L’Etoile du Nord, or North Star, as the official “North Star State”.
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