WOODEN US STATE SEALS/PODIUM PLAQUES

Hand Carved and Painted Wooden State Seals

All our state seals/podium plaques are made from solid mahogany that has been kiln dried and cured to avoid warping and twisting. They are hand carved and painted with a 1/8th inch relief on designs and lettering. Each product has a keyhole slot recessed into the rear to allow flush fitting against any surface.

Special stands are available to convert the seal into a free standing unit for display in a case or on a table top. For more information about these or any other item on this page, please call Toll Free 1-877-543-6094.

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Alabama State Seal

Alabama's Great Seal shows the major rivers of the state and was designed by the first governor, William Wyatt Bibb. The seal was created in 1817 when Bibb was Governor of the Alabama Territory. He realized he needed an official seal for his commissions and other state papers. Governor Bibb felt the best seal would be a map of the territory showing its rivers. It also showed the territories (now states) surrounding Alabama. By 1819, when Alabama became a state, the seal became the state seal. The state seal remained unchanged for 50 years. After the Civil War a new seal was made in 1868. This seal showed an eagle standing on the American shield and holding a banner in its beak, which read "Here We Rest". This seal was used from 1868 - 1939 on official documents and letterheads. In 1939 a bill was introduced by the legislature to restore the original seal as the Great Seal of Alabama. The bill was approved by the Legislature and Governor Frank M. Dixon in 1939. /Source: Alabama State Emblems, Alabama Department of Archives and History, nd./ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1939

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Alaska State Seal

While Alaska was still a district, the first governor designated a seal of the district. This seal featured icebergs, 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, this seal, created by an "unnamed draftsman," is the state seal of Alaska. The rays above the mountains represent the famous Alaskan northern lights. The smelter symbolizes mining, the train stands for Alaska's railroads, and ships denote transportation by sea. The trees pictured in the seal symbolize Alaska's wealth of timber, and the farmer, his horse, and the three shocks of wheat stand for Alaskan agriculture. The fish and the seals signify the importance of fishing and seal rookeries to Alaska's economy. The state seal of Alaska is a fine representation of the vast wealth of the forty-ninth state. /Lieutenant Governor Loren Leman's web site, ltgov.state.ak.us/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1910

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Arizona State Seal

A shield with the motto Ditat Deus, which means God Enriches, lies in the center of the seal and contains symbols of Arizona's key enterprises. A quartz mill sits on the side of a hill on the left of the seal, behind a miner with a pick and shovel. They symbolize Arizona's mining industry. The sun rising behind mountain peaks in the background symbolizes Arizona's climate. The reservoir and dam which sit in front of the mountains remind us of water reclamation farming. Irrigated fields with rows of cotton and citrus trees lie below the dam. These elements symbolize Arizona's rich agriculture. Cattle, which graze in front of the fields, on the lower right side, is another symbol of historic importance to Arizona. Written in a band around the edge of the seal are the words Great Seal of the State of Arizona with the year of Arizona's admission to the Union, 1912.

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Arkansas State Seal

On the shield of the state seal are a steamboat, a plow, a beehive and a sheaf of wheat, symbols of Arkansas' industrial and agricultural wealth. 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", our state motto, which means "The People Rule". The seal was adopted in its basic form in 1864, and in its present form in 1907. adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1864, 1907

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California State Seal

The Constitutional Convention of 1849 adopted the Great Seal of the State of California. The seal was designed by Major R. S. Garnett of the United States Army, and proposed by Caleb Lyon, a clerk of the convention. The Roman goddess of wisdom, Minerva, has at her feet a grizzly bear and clusters of grapes representing wildlife and agricultural richness. A miner works near the busy Sacramento River, below the Sierra Nevada peaks. The Greek word "Eureka" meaning "I have found it", probably refers to the miner's discovery of gold. Near the upper edge of the seal are 31 stars representing the number of states with California's anticipated admission. Just as Minerva sprung full-grown from the head of Jupiter, California became a state on September 9, 1850, without having to go through a territorial stage. /California State Library, www.library.ca.gov/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1949

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Colorado State Seal

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 approved the adoption of the state seal on March 15, 1877. The Colorado Secretary of State alone is authorized to affix the Great Seal of Colorado to any document whatsoever. By statute, the seal of the State is two and one-half inches in diameter with the following devices inscribed thereon: At the top is the eye of God within a triangle, from which golden rays radiate on two sides. Below the eye is a scroll, the Roman fasces, a bundle of birch or elm rods with a battle axe bound together by red thongs and bearing on a band of red, white and blue, the word, "Union and Constitution." The Roman fasces is the insignia of a republican form of government. The bundle of rods bound together symbolizes strength which is lacking in the single rod. The axe symbolizes authority and leadership. Below the scroll is the heraldic shield bearing across the top on a red ground three snow-capped mountains with clouds above them. The lower half of the shield has two miner's tools, the pick and sledge hammer, crossed on a golden ground. Below the shield in a semicircle is the motto, "Nil Sine Numine", Latin words meaning "nothing without the Deity", and at the bottom the figures 1876, the year Colorado came into statehood. The design for the Territorial Seal which served as a model for the State Seal or Great Seal of Colorado has been variously credited, but the individual primarily responsible was Lewis Ledyard Weld, the Territorial Secretary, appointed by President Lincoln in July of 1861. There is also evidence that Territorial Governor William Gilpin also was at least partially responsible for the design. Both Weld and Gilpin were knowledgeable in the art and symbolism of heraldry. Elements of design from both the Weld and Gilpin family coat-of-arms are incorporated in the Territorial Seal. /Source: State Colorado Official Website, www.colorado.gov/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 08.11.1861

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Connecticut State Seal

Connecticut's first seal 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 of the seal. On October 9, 1662, the same day that the new Royal Charter was read aloud at Hartford, the assembly formally declared that the seal would be kept by the Secretary of the Colony and used as the Seal of the Colony on necessary occasions. It remained the colony's seal until October 1687, when Sir Edmund Andros took control of the colony's government and the seal disappeared. It is presumed to have been destroyed. Self-government returned to Connecticut in 1689, but for a number of years only a poorly fashioned substitute seal was used. On October 25, 1711, a meeting of the Governor and Council (upper house of the assembly) resolved, "that a new stamp shall be made and cut of the seal of this Colony, suitable for sealing upon wafers, and that a press be provided with the necessary appurtenances, for that purpose, as soon as may be, at the cost and charge of this Colony, to be kept in the secretary's office." The new, less elaborately decorated seal was larger in size and more oval shaped than the original. The words of the motto remained the same, but the number of grape vines was reduced to three and the legend SIGILLUM COLONIAE CONNECTICUTENSIS (Seal of the Connecticut Colony) is added to the edge of the seal. The three vines may have been intended to represent the three colonies, New Haven, Saybrook, and Connecticut (Hartford), which, by 1665, had merged to form the Connecticut of that time. After the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, the inscription on the colonial seal was no longer appropriate. Therefore, in May of 1784 the General Assembly directed the Secretary to alter the inscription to read "SIGILL. REIP. CONNECTICUTENSIS." However, when a new version of the seal was prepared, the inscription contained the words spelled out ---SIGILLUM REIPUBLICAE CONNECTICUTENSIS (Seal of the State of Connecticut). /Source: State of Connecticut, www.ct.gov/

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Delaware State Seal

The state seal was first adopted on January 17, 1777, and contains the coat of arms. Party per fess, or and argent, the first charged with a garb (wheat sheaf) in bend dexter and an ear of maize (Indian Corn) in bend sinister, both proper; the second charged with an ox statant, ruminating, proper; fess, wavy azure, supporters on the dexter a husbandman with a hilling hoe, on the sinister a rifleman armed and accoutred at ease. Crest, on a wreath azure and argent, a ship under full sail, proper." The motto is "Liberty and independence." It also bears the inscription around it "Great Seal of the State of Delaware" and the dates 1704, 1776 and 1787. Descriptions of the contents of the seal are as follows: The Wheat Sheaf - was adapted from the Sussex County seal and signifies the agricultural vitality of Delaware. The Ship - is a symbol of New Castle County's ship building industry and Delaware's extensive coastal commerce. The Corn - is taken from the Kent County seal and also symbolizes the agricultural basis of Delaware's economy. The Farmer - with the hoe represents the central role of farming to the state. The Militiaman - with his musket recognizes the crucial role of the citizen-soldier to the maintenance of American liberties. The Ox - represents the importance of animal husbandry to the state economy. The Water - (above the Ox) stands for the Delaware River, the main stay of the state's commerce and transportation. The Motto - was derived from the Order of Cincinnati, and approved in 1847. The Dates - 1704, the year that Delaware established its General Assembly; 1776, the year that our independence from Great Britain was declared; and 1787, the year that Delaware became "the First State" by being the first colony to ratify the United States Constitution. /source: State of Delawarewww.state.de.us/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 17.01.1777

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Florida State Seal

The elements and basic design instructions for Florida's State Seal were established by the Legislature in 1868. Early that year, Florida's newly adopted State Constitution had directed that:"The Legislature shall, at the first session, adopt a seal for the state, and such seal shall be the size of an American silver dollar, but said seal shall not again be changed after its adoption by the Legislature." So the Legislature, acting quickly upon the mandate, passed and sent to Governor Harrison Reed a Joint Resolution on August 6, 1868 specifying "That a Seal of the size of the American silver dollar, having in the center thereof a view of the sun's rays over a high land in the distance, a cocoa tree, a steamboat on water, and an Indian female scattering flowers in the foreground, encircled by the words, 'Great Seal of the State of Florida: In God We Trust', be and the same is hereby adopted as the Great Seal of the State of Florida." Some people also consider the "In God We Trust" phrase the State Motto, although there is no official designation of a State Motto in the Florida Statutes. Florida's present Constitution, (Art. II, Sec. 4), continues to require the seal to be prescribed by law. In 1970, more than 100 years after the first specifications were drawn, the Florida Legislature made one change in the official description (CH. 15.03), changing "cocoa tree" in the former language to "Sabal palmetto palm." The sabal palmetto palm had been designated as State Tree in 1953. /Source: Florida Office of Cultural and Historical Programs, www.flheritage.com/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 25.05.1861, 1985

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Georgia State Seal

The current Great Seal of Georgia was adopted by the State Constitution of 1798. On its front side appear three pillars supporting an arch, emblematic of the three branches of government - the legislative, judicial and executive. A man stands with a drawn sword defending the Constitution whose principles are wisdom, justice and moderation. The reverse of the Seal shows a ship with cotton and tobacco, and a man plowing, representing the agriculture and commerce of the Seal's motto. In 1914, the date on the Seal was changed from 1799 to 1776 to correspond with the date of the Declaration of Independence. By law, the Secretary of State is the official custodian of the Great Seal, which is attached to official papers by executive order of the Governor. /Source: www.sos.state.ga.us/ Except for the date it bears, the present Great Seal has been in use since 1799 with the exception of the period 1863-1865, when a specially designed Great Seal was used, and the period 1868-1871, when it was hidden by Secretary of State Nathan C. Barnett. In 1872, it was restored by Mr. Barnett after Georgians were again in power in the state. During the three Governors' controversy in 1947, Secretary of State Ben W. Fortson, Jr. hid the Great Seal under the cushion of his wheelchair until the Georgia Supreme Court decided who was the rightful Chief Executive. In 1914, the date on the Seal was changed by legislative action from 1799 to 1776 to correspond with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The device on one side is a view of the seashore, with a ship bearing the flag of the United States riding at anchor near a wharf, receiving on board hogsheads of tobacco and bales of cotton, emblematic of the exports of this State; at a small distance a boat, landing from the interior of the State, with hogsheads, etc., on board representing the State's internal traffic; in the back part of the same side a man in the act of plowing, and at a small distance a flock of sheep in different postures, shaded by a flourishing tree; the motto thereon, "Agriculture and Commerce, 1776." The device on the other side is three pillars supporting an arch, with the word "Constitution" engraved within the same, emblematic of the Constitution, supported by the three departments of government, viz., the legislative, judicial, and executive--the first pillar having engraved on it "Wisdom," the second "Justice," the third "Moderation"; on the right of the last pillar a man standing with a drawn sword, representing the aid of the military in the defense of the Constitution; the motto, "State of Georgia 1776." (0CGA Title 50-3-30) adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1799

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Hawaii State Seal

The great seal of the State shall be circular in shape, two and three-quarters inches in diameter, and of the design being described, with the tinctures added as a basis for the coat of arms as follows: Arms. An heraldic shield which is quarterly; first and fourth, stripes of the Hawaiian flag; second and third, on a yellow field, a white ball pierced on a black staff; overall, a green escutcheon with a five-pointed yellow star in the center. Supporters. On the right side, Kamehameha I, standing in the attitude as represented by the bronze statue in front of Aliiolani Hale, Honolulu; cloak and helmet yellow; figure in natural colors. To the left, goddess of liberty, wearing a Phrygian cap and laurel wreath, and holding in right hand the Hawaiian flag, partly unfurled. Crest. A rising sun irradiated in gold, surrounded by a legend "State of Hawaii, 1959," on a scroll, black lettering. Motto. "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono" on the scroll at bottom, gold lettering. Further accessories. Below the shield, the bird phoenix wings outstretched; arising from flames, body black, wings half yellow, half dark red; also eight taro leaves, having on either side banana foliage and sprays of maiden hair fern, trailed upwards. [L 1901, c 16, §1; RL 1925, §143; RL 1935, §7771; RL 1945, §12941; RL 1955, §14-5; am L 1957, c 29, §1; am L 1959, c 272, §2; HRS §5-5] The motto was adopted by the Kingdom of Hawai'i in 1843. The words were used in an address by Kamehameha III at ceremonies following the return of his kingdom from the British. An English sea captain (Paulet) had, in effect, ceded Hawai'i to England, claiming large debts owed by the Hawaiian nobility. He was acting a bit beyond his authority, and Admiral Richard Thomas was dispatched to return sovereignty of the islands to the King. Thomas Square in Honolulu is named for the Admiral. The seal of the state of Hawai'i hangs from the mauka (toward the mountains) and makai (toward the ocean) entrances to the state capitol, and is patterned after the royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Hawai'i, shown here at 'Iolani Palace. From the March/April 1979 issue of Aloha Magazine on the 20th anniversary of statehood, the symbolism of the seal is described: - 1959 represents the date of statehood. - The rising sun replaces the royal crown and Maltese cross of the original coat of arms, and signifies the birth of a new state. King Kamehameha the Great and Goddess of Liberty holding the Hawaiian flag replace the two warriors on the royal coat of arms. - The quartered design of the heraldic shield is retained from the coat of arms. - The four stripes of the Hawaiian flag in each of the first and fourth quarters represent the eight islands. - Puloulou, or tabu ball and stick, in the second and third quarters was carried before the king and placed before the door of his home, signifying his authority and power. Here, it is a symbol of the authority and power of government. - The star represents the fiftieth star added to the national flag when Hawaii became a state. - The phoenix, symbol of death and resurrection, symbolizes the change from the monarchy to a freer democratic form of government. - The eight taro leaves, flanked by banana foliage and maidenhair fern are typical Hawaiian flora. Taro was the staff of life and had great religious significance. - The state motto "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono", "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness" is retained from the royal coat of arms. adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1843

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Idaho State Seal

The Great Seal of the State, replica of which is embroidered in colors in the center of the flag, came into existence in 1891 by act of the first state legislature. The seal was designed by Emma Edwards Green, the only woman to design a state seal. The translation of the Latin motto on the seal, 'Esto Perpetua' is 'Let it be perpetual' or 'It is forever.' In 1957 the seal was updated and streamlined by Paul B. Evans. The official Great Seal can be seen in the office of the Secretary of State. No official record remains of the adoption of the first Great Seal of Idaho when it became a territory in 1863. The design is attributed to Silas D. Cochran, a clerk in the office of the Secretary of State. Dissatisfaction with the official seal caused Governor Caleb Lyon to present a seal of his own design which was accepted by the Idaho Territorial Legislature on January 11, 1866. This, too, was controversial and was redrawn several times. Nevertheless, it was used until Idaho became a state in 1890. In 1957, the thirty-fourth session of the Idaho legislature authorized the updating and improvement of the Great Seal in order to more clearly define Idaho's main industries, mining, agriculture and forestry as well as highlight the state's natural beauty. Paul B. Evans and the Caxton Printers, Ltd. were commissioned to revise the seal. This painting by Paul B. Evans officially replaced the original design by Emma Edwards Green and is designated as the "Official Copy." The official Great Seal of the State of Idaho can be seen in the office of the Secretary of State. Emma Edwards Green at the period when she designed the Great Seal for the State of Idaho. The only woman ever to achieve such distinction in the United States, she won in competition sponsored by the First Legislature for the State of Idaho. She was handed the honorarium by Governor Norman B. Willey on March 5, 1891. /Source: Idaho.gov/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1957

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Illinois State Seal

The present state seal was adopted in 1868 when Secretary of State Sharon Tyndale convinced Senator Allen C. Fuller to propose a new seal. Tyndale's seal changed the banner's wording from "State Sovereignty, National Union" to "National Union, State Sovereignty" because of the Civil War. The General Assembly adopted the new seal, but rejected the changed wording. However, Tyndale, as Secretary of State, was the keeper of the seal, and changed the design so that "National Union" was much more prominent and the word "Sovereignty" was upside down, decreasing its readability. The state seal has been re-cut more than once since 1868, but the design remains virtually unchanged. adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1868

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Indiana State Seal

Versions of the pioneer scene have been used on Indiana seals since territorial days. They are found on official papers as early as 1801. Both the 1816 and 1851 Constitutions provided for a seal to be kept for "official purposes." The 1963 Indiana General Assembly gave legal sanction to the design and provided an official description: "A perfect circle, two and five eighths inches in diameter, enclosed by a plain line. Another circle within the first, two and three eighths inches in diameter enclosed by a beaded line, leaving a margin of one quarter of an inch. In the top half of this margin are the words 'Seal of the State of Indiana.' At the bottom center, 1816, flanked on either side by a diamond, with two dots and a leaf of the tulip tree [the state tree], at both ends of the diamond. The inner circle has two trees in the left background, three hills in the center background with nearly a full sun setting behind and between the first and second hill from the left. There are fourteen rays from the sun, starting with two short ones on the left, the third being longer and then alternating, short and long. There are two sycamore trees on the right, the larger one being nearer the center and having a notch cut nearly halfway through, from the left side, a short distance above the ground. The woodsman is wearing a hat and holding his ax nearly perpendicular on his right. The ax blade is turned away from him and is even with his hat. The buffalo is in the foreground, facing to the left of front. His tail is up, front feet on the ground with back feet in the air -- as he jumps over a log. The ground has shoots of bluegrass, in the area of the buffalo and woodsman." /Indiana Historical Society, www.indianahis

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Iowa State Seal

One of the initial acts of the first Iowa Legislature in 1847 was to create the Great Seal of Iowa. The two-inch diameter seal pictures a citizen soldier standing in a wheat field, surrounded by farming and industrial tools, with the Mississippi River in the background. An eagle is overhead, holding in its beak a scroll bearing the state motto, "Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain." The motto was the work of a three-man Senate committee and was incorporated into the design of the seal at their suggestion. The Great Seal cannot be used without the permission of the Governor. The state seal is retained in the custody of and under the control of the Governor, who uses the seal for official documents and functions. Iowa Code, 1A.1. 1A.1 Seal-device-motto. The secretary of state be, and is, hereby authorized to procure a seal which shall be the great seal of the state of Iowa, two inches in diameter, upon which shall be engraved the following device, surrounded by the words, "The Great Seal of the State of Iowa"--a sheaf and field of standing wheat, with a sickle and other farming utensils, on the left side near the bottom; a lead furnace and pile of pig lead on the right side; the citizen soldier, with a plow in his rear, supporting the American flag and liberty cap with his right hand, and his gun with his left, in the center and near the bottom; the Mississippi river in the rear of the whole, with the steamer Iowa under way; an eagle near the upper edge, holding in his beak a scroll, with the following inscription upon it: Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain. adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1847

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Kansas State Seal

Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution of the State of Kansas provides that "there shall be kept by the governor, and used by him officially, and which shall be the great seal of Kansas. All commissions shall be issued in the name of the state of Kansas; and shall be signed by the governor, countersigned by the Secretary of State, and sealed with the great seal." The First Session of the Kansas Legislature in 1861 provided for the creation of the Great Seal, described as follows: "The East is represented by a rising sun, in the right hand corner of the seal; to the left of it, Commerce is represented by a river and a steamboat; in the foreground, agriculture is represented as the basis of the future prosperity of the state, by a settler's cabin and a man plowing with a pair of horses; beyond this is a train of ox-wagons, going west; in the background is seen a herd of buffalo, retreating, pursued by two indians on horseback; around the top is the motto: 'Ad astra per aspera,' beneath a cluster of thirty-four stars. The circle is surrounded by the words: Great Seal of the State of Kansas. January 29, 1861." The motto which appears on the Great Seal, "Ad astra per aspera," is Latin for "To the stars through difficulties." The thirty-four stars represent the fact that Kansas was the thirty-fourth state admitted to the Union. /Office of the Governor of Kansas, /www.ksgovernor.org/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1861

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Kentucky State Seal

The official seal of the Commonwealth was described in a bill passed by the General Assembly on December 20, 1792, shortly after Kentucky joined the Union. The original seal shows two friends embracing each other, with the words "Commonwealth of Kentucky" over their heads and around them the words "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." By custom (and now in conformity with the description of the flag contained in the statutes), two sprigs of goldenrod in bloom are shown in the lower portion of the seal. The official colors of the seal are blue and gold. Most historians believe that the patriotism of Kentucky's first governor, Isaac Shelby, was the inspiration for the state's choice of the motto "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." Shelby, a hero of the Revolutionary War for his victory at the Battle of Kings Mountain, was fond of "The Liberty Song," written 1768 by John Dickinson. The chorus of song includes: "They join in hand, brave Americans all, By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall." Another song that was popular at the time was "The Flag of Our Union," written by George Pope Morris, that also contained a similar line: "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." But most historians believe that the song by Dickinson was the ultimate source. The origin for the concept of strength in unity can be traced all the way back to the one of the fables of Aesop, in which he shows that sticks one by one may be readily broken, but cannot when several are bound together in a bundle. The moral being, "Union gives strength." The state's seal has undergone several changes throughout its 200+ years of existence. The original seal was commissioned to engraver David Humphries for price of 12 pounds sterling. Although Isaac Shelby's initial conception of the seal depicted two pioneers in buckskins, with their hands clapsed as they stood on a precipice, Humphries' version imposed the men, dressed in swallowtail coats, embracing in a bear hug so tight that one of the men's heads is obliterated by the other's. After developing both a seal and press for the Commonwealth, Humphries' work was destroyed in 1814 when a fire burned down the state capitol. Other versions of the seal include that of one man in breeches and another in a frock coat. Rather than embracing, they clasp hands in an awkward stance. Some historians/humorists attribute this version to the rumor that all Kentuckians, at the time, drank excessively, and that these two men found it necessary to support each other in their effort to stand: "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." In order to keep the design of the seal consistent in the future, the Kentucky legislature passed an act in 1962 (KRS 2.020) which described the official seal as a pioneer meeting a gentleman in a swallowtail coat. The formally dressed man on the right represents England coming to Kentucky. The man in buckskin, on the left, is from the frontier. Shaking hands, they are uniting the colonial and pioneer aspects of the "Commonwealth." This seal was on Kentucky's representative flag for the Apollo moon mission, as well as being on current historical markers throughout the state. In 1942, state's official seal was placed under the responsibility the Kentucky Secretary of State. (KRS 14.030) /Source: Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, www.kdla.ky.gov/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 20.12.1792

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Louisiana State Seal

Louisiana's first territorial governor, William C.C. Claiborne had great admiration for the awkward bird that inhabited the Gulf Coast region. The pelican, rather than let its young starve, would tear at its own flesh to feed them. The Governor's great respect for the Pelican led him to first use the bird on official documents. Many different versions of the present seal, including one with as many as 12 chicks in the nest, were utilized. Pelicans rarely have more than three chicks in the nest at any time, and it was a version with three chicks that was officially designed on April 30, 1902 as the official state seal. /Source: Louisiana Governor's Office, www.gov.state.la.us/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 30.04.1902

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Maine State Seal

The seal of the State shall be a shield, argent, charged with a pine tree (americana, quinis ex uno folliculo setis) with a moose (cervus alces), at the foot of it, recumbent; supporters: on dexter side, a husbandman, resting on a scythe; on sinister side, a seaman, resting on an anchor. In the foreground, representing sea and land, and under the shield, shall be the name of the State in large Roman capitals, to wit: MAINE. The whole shall be surrounded by a crest, the North Star. The motto, in small Roman capitals, shall be in a label interposed between the shield and crest, viz.: -- DIRIGO. Maine became a state on March 15, 1820 and the Legislature adopted the language governing the Seal's design on June 9. The description had been drafted by a short-lived Committee under the direction of first Senate President William Moody. Colonel Isaac G. Reed of Waldoboro is credited with the Seal's description and explanation. Note the archaic language in the above statute, still alive in Maine law; the Latin phrase for the pine tree derives from a classification system no longer used by botanists, for example. The actual appearance of the Seal has varied over the years. All of the variations have been based on the language above. The first sketch of the Seal was markedly different from the above; the "moose" looked like a deer, the shield was more conventional, the scythe was held with the blade on the ground. Later variations included the scythe being held behind the husbandman's head, and in one case, the inexplicable substitution of a sextant for the mariner's anchor. There is little statutory guidance for coloring the Seal other than the description of the blue-background State Flag in Title 1 Section 206. The present design was fixed by the Legislature in 1919. /Source: Maine.gov/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 15.03.1820, 1919

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Maryland State Seal

The Secretary of State was given an additional responsibility in 1853 when he was made official custodian of the Great Seal of Maryland. Since that year, the Secretary of State has had physical custody of the successive Great Seals, and is responsible for applying the seal to those official documents where required by law or custom. The original die of the Great Seal of 1876 (now damaged) was created in accordance with Joint Resolution No. 5 of the 1876 General Assembly session. The seal was engraved upon brass and executed in Paris in late 1878 or early 1879. This embossing seal, impressed an image of the Great Seal directly into the paper. Today the seal is embossed or printed onto foil disks that are later applied to the document. The reverse of the Great Seal of Maryland consists of an escutcheon, or shield, bearing the Calvert and Crossland arms quartered. Above is an earl's coronet and a full-faced helmet. The escutcheon is supported on one side by a farmer and on the other by a fisherman. It symbolizes Lord Baltimore's two estates: Maryland, and Avalon in Newfoundland. The obverse of the Great Seal of Maryland shows Lord Baltimore as a knight in full armor mounted on a charger. The inscription translated is "Cecilius, Absolute Lord of Maryland and Avalon, Baron of Baltimore" (Chapter 79, Acts of 1969; Code State Government Article, secs. 13-101 through 13-105). adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1853

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Massachusetts State Seal

The State Seal, adopted by Governor John Hancock and the Council on December 13, 1780 and made official by the General Court on June 4, 1885, is circular and bears a representation of the arms of the Commonwealth encircled with the words, "Sigillum Reipublicae Massachusettensis" (Seal of the Republic of Massachusetts). The final form of the seal was determined by a statewide contest. The arms, according to legislative enactment, consist of "a shield having a blue field or surface with an Indian thereon, dressed in a shirt and moccasins, holding in his right hand a bow, and in his left hand an arrow, point downward, all of gold; and, in the upper corner of the field, above his right arm, a silver star with five points. The crest is a wreath of blue and gold, on which in gold is a right arm, bent at the elbow, clothed and ruffled, with the hand grasping a broadsword". The shield's shape is called "Plantagenet"; the Native American model used was of the Algonquin nation; the arrow points downward to indicate that the Indian is peaceful; and the star indicates that Massachusetts was one of the original thirteen states; it was sixth. The sword illustrates the Latin motto that is written in gold on a blue ribbon around the bottom of the shield: "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem". This is the second of two lines written about 1659 by Algernon Sydney, English soldier and politician, in the Book of Mottoes in the King's Library in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was adopted in 1775 by the Provincial Congress and means, "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty". adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 13.12.1780, 04.12.1885

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Michigan State Seal

Both the Great Seal of Michigan and the Coat of Arms were adopted at the Constitutional Convention of 1835. A former Territorial Governor, Lewis Cass, created the original design. The Coat of Arms is familiar to us because it is shown on Michigan's state flag. This first occurred in 1837. From that time, numerous flags were in use bearing the State Coat of Arms, with various designs and emblems. It was not until 1865, however, that an official Michigan flag was adopted. The design of this flag, recommended by Adjutant-General John Robertson, and approved by Governor Crapo, bore on one side the State Coat of Arms on a field of blue. On the reverse side was the arms of the United States. Michigan's current Coat of Arms was adopted by the Legislature in 1911. (MCL 2.21) It is identical to the Great Seal of Michigan with the legend or circle, The Great Seal of the State of Michigan, A.D. MDCCCXXXV, omitted. adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1835, 1911

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Minnesota State Seal

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 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 could be undertaken without it. The territorial seal was used as a state seal until Governor Sibley started using a new design. When the legislature did not approve Governor Sibley's design, he made some changes, including changing the original Latin motto to French, ?toile du Nord, thereby making Minnesota the North Star State. In 1861 the legislature adopted the new design, making it the official state seal. In 1983, the legislature altered the seal further. The design of the seal is as described in this subdivision. (a) The seal is composed of two concentric borders. The outside forms the border of the seal and the inside forms the border for the illustrations within the seal. The area between the two borders contains lettering. (b) The seal is two inches in diameter. The outside border has a radius of one inch and resembles the serrated edge of a coin. The width of the border is 1/16 of an inch. (c) The inside border has a radius of three-fourths of an inch and is composed of a series of closely spaced dots measuring 1/32 of an inch in diameter. (d) Within the area between the borders "The Great Seal of the State of Minnesota" is printed in capital letters. Under that is the date "1858" with two dagger symbols separating the date and the letters. The lettering is 14-point century bold. (e) In the area within the inside border is the portrayal of an 1858 Minnesota scene made up of various illustrations that serve to depict a settler plowing the ground near the Falls of St. Anthony while he watches an Indian on horseback riding in the distance. (f) For the purposes of description, when the area within the inside border is divided into quadrants, the following illustrations should be clearly visible in the area described. (1) In the upper parts of quadrants one and two, the inscription "L'Etoile du Nord" is found on the likeness of a scroll whose length is equal to twice the length of the inscription, but whose ends are twice folded underneath and serve to enhance the inscription. The lettering is 7-point century bold. (2) In quadrant two is found a likeness of a sun whose ambient rays form a background for a male Indian in loincloth and plume riding on horseback at a gallop. The Indian is sitting erect and is holding a spear in his left hand at an upward 60-degree angle to himself and is looking toward the settler in quadrant four. (3) In quadrant one, three pine trees form a background for a picturesque resemblance of St. Anthony Falls in 1858. (4) In quadrants three and four, cultivated ground is found across the lower half of the seal, which provides a background for the scenes in quadrants three and four. (5) In quadrant three, a tree stump is found with an ax embedded in the stump and a period muzzle loader resting on it. A powder flask is hanging towards the end of the barrel. (6) In quadrant four, a white barefoot male pioneer wearing clothing and a hat of that period is plowing the earth, using an animal-drawn implement from that period. The animal is not visible. The torso of the man continues into quadrant two, and he has his legs spread apart to simulate movement. He is looking at the Indian. adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1849

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Mississippi State Seal

When Mississippi gained statehood in 1817, it decided to use the seal that it had been using since 1798 when Mississippi was still a territory. It bears a modified version of the arms of the United States. The eagle holds an olive branch and arrows, symbolizing the desire for peace but the ability to wage war. The outer circle of the seal holds the words "The Great Seal of the State of Mississippi". adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1798

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Missouri State Seal

The Great Seal was designed by Judge Robert William Wells and adopted by the Missouri General Assembly on January 11, 1822. The center of the state seal is composed of two parts. On the right is the United States coat-of-arms containing the bald eagle. In its claws are arrows and olive branches, signifying that the power of war and peace lies with the U.S. federal government. On the left side of the shield, the state side, are a grizzly bear and a silver crescent moon. The crescent symbolizes Missouri at the time of the state seal's creation, a state of small population and wealth which would increase like the new or crescent moon; it also symbolizes the "second son," meaning Missouri was the second state formed out of the Louisiana Territory. This shield is encircled by a belt inscribed with the motto, "United we stand, divided we fall," which indicates Missouri's advantage as a member of the United States. The two grizzlies on either side of the shield symbolize the state's strength and its citizens' bravery. The bears stand atop a scroll bearing the state motto, "Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto," which means, "Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law." Below this scroll are the Roman numerals for 1820, the year Missouri began its functions as a state. The helmet above the shield represents state sovereignty, and the large star atop the helmet surrounded by 23 smaller stars signified Missouri's status as the 24th state. The cloud around the large star indicates the problems Missouri had in becoming a state. The whole state seal is enclosed by a scroll bearing the words, "The Great Seal of the State of Missouri." (RSMo.10.060) adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 11.01.1822

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Montana State Seal

The Montana state seal is a round picture designed to show Montana's history and natural beauty. At the top, a sunrise shines over snowy mountains. Waterfalls, the Missouri River, mountains, hills, trees, and cliffs are shown behind three tools. A pick, a shovel, and a plow are symbols of Montana's mining and farming, past and present. The plow stands for Montana's farming history. Montana farmers grow apples, wheat, mint, sugar beets, cherries, and other crops. When Montana changed from a territory to a state in 1889, the seal changed, too. Montana's first seal had a buffalo where the trees are now, and the falls and river were different, but it was very close to this one. adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1889

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Nebraska State Seal

In 1866 the first constitution of Nebraska stated, "There shall be a seal of the state, which shall be kept by the governor and used by him officially, and shall be called the Great Seal of the State of Nebraska." After statehood had been achieved in March of 1867 then Governor Butler called a special session of the legislature to pass such laws as the Governor thought necessary for starting the state government. In this special session a bill was introduced that required the Secretary of State to procure a seal "...to be designated and known as the Great Seal of the State of Nebraska." The bill went on to specify, "The eastern part of the circle to be represented by a steamboat ascending the Missouri River, the mechanic arts to be represented by a smith with a hammer and anvil, in the foreground, agriculture to be represented by a settlers cabin, sheaves of wheat, and stalks of growing corn, in the background a train of cars heading towards the Rocky Mountains, and on the extreme west, the Rocky Mountains to be plainly in view, around the top of the circle, to be in capital letters, the motto: "Equality Before the Law," and the circle to be surrounded with the words, "Great Seal of the State of Nebraska, March 1, 1867." A sum of twenty-five dollars was appropriated to enable the Secretary of State to carry out the act and the bill was signed into law by Governor Butler on June 15, 1867. According to legend the seal purchased by then Secretary of State Thomas Kennard played a key role when the State Capitol was moved from Omaha to Lincoln in 1868. According to Mr. Kennard's statements much later in his life he and Governor Butler had decided to go along with the movement to make the move to Lincoln. "So Governor Butler and I, without consulting any other person, decided what steps we should take. We planned that he should leave Omaha and go to his home in Pawnee City and prepare his proclamation announcing the removal, that I would go to my home in Washington county and on the following Sunday I would hitch up my team and drive up to Omaha, go into the Capitol, wrap up the seal, carefully take it out and place it under the seat in my buggy, drive straight to the west over the prairies and before Sunday closed cross the Platte river. The scheme was successfully carried out, and on the following Monday I appeared at the new Capitol with the State Seal and put the impression upon the proclamation of Governor Butler, who met me here, and which declared that the Capitol of the State of Nebraska was at Lincoln, County of Lancaster, Nebraska, and now open for business." The same seal that was purchased in 1867 and played the key role in the moving of the Capitol from Omaha to Lincoln the next year, is still in use today. The Seal is located in the Secretary of State's office and still leaves its impression on all official State documents. /Nebraska Secretary of State, www.sos.state.ne.us/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1867

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Nevada State Seal

Designed in July 1864 and adopted February 24, 1866. A blue seal is embossed with the words " The Great Seal of the State of Nevada" around the outer edge. Within this is a composite picture showing the mining, agriculture, industry and scenery of Nevada, under which is a scroll with the State motto, "All for our Country". adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 24.02.1866

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New Hampshire State Seal

The seal of the state shall be 2 inches in diameter, circular, with the following detail and no other: A field crossed by a straight horizon line of the sea, above the center of the field; concentric with the field the rising sun, exposed above the horizon about 1/3 of its diameter; the field encompassed with laurel; across the field for the full width within the laurel a broadside view of the frigate Raleigh, on the stocks; the ship's bow dexter and higher than the stern; the 3 lower masts shown in place, together with the fore, main and mizzen tops, shrouds and mainstays; an ensign staff at the stern flies the United States flag authorized by act of Congress June 14, 1777; a jury staff on the mainmast and another on the foremast each flies a penant; flags and pennants are streaming to the dexter side; the hull is shown without a rudder; below the ship the field is divided into land and water by a double diagonal line whose highest point is sinister; no detail is shown anywhere on the water, nor any on the land between the water and the stocks except a granite boulder on the dexter side; encircling the field is the inscription, SEAL OF THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, the words separated by round periods, except between the parts of New Hampshire; at the lowest point of the inscription is the date 1776, flanked on either side by a 5-pointed star, which group separates the beginning and end of the inscription. The seal was first created in 1775 by the First Provincial Congress. It comprised a pine tree and an upright fish, on each side of a bundle of five arrows. The design reflected the state's then two major economic resources, and the arrows symbolized the strength of unity among the then five counties. When the present state constitution became effective in 1784, the new Legislature revised the seal, to depict a ship on stocks, with a rising sun in the background, to reflect Portsmouth having become a major shipbuilding center during the war years. Various items for shipment were also shown on a frontal dock. Details of this 1784 seal became so distorted in the ensuing century and a half that the 1931 Legislature voted major improvements, and, or the first time, spelled out its makeup. Director Otis G. Hammond of the New Hampshire Historical Society sparked this adjustment, by reporting that artists and sketchers had injected surprising details into the seal, as they produced new dies every few years for official state use. They produced rum barrels on the dock, and, on occasion, even human beings beside them. When Governor John G. Winant of Concord launched a second term in 1931, he named a committee to serve with Hammond, to produce a less objectionable seal. The 1931 Legislature readily approved its recommendations. /The NH Almanac , www.state.nh.us/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1931

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New Jersey State Seal

New Jersey's state seal was designed by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere and presented in May of 1777. There are several state symbols included in the seal. The horse head stands for speed and strength, and is the state animal. The helmet of a knight's suit of armor faces forward representing sovereignty for a state that governs itself. Below the helmet is a shield with three plows on it. The plows show the importance of agriculture to the state's economic power. The female figures pictured in the state seal are Liberty on the left, carrying the liberty cap on her staff. The liberty cap was worn as a symbol of rebellion by patriots in the colonies. Ceres, the Roman goddess of grain is on the right. She holds a cornucopia filled with harvested produce, symbolizing abundance. Below it all is a banner with the state's motto, "Liberty and Prosperity". adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1777

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New Mexico State Seal

New Mexico's first seal was designed shortly after the organization of the Territorial Government, in 1851. The original seal has long since disappered, possibly as part of the artifacts placed into the cornerstone of the Soldiers Monument in the Santa Fe Plaza. Imprints of the original seal show it consisted of the American Eagle, clutching an olive branch in one talon, and three arrows in the other. Along the outside rim was the inscription "Great Seal of the Territory NM." In the early 1860's an unknown official adopted a new seal, using a design similar to today's Great Seal. It featured the American Bald Eagle, its outstretched wings shielding a smaller Mexican Eagle, symbolizing the change of sovereignty from Mexico to the United States in 1846. The smaller Mexican Brown, or Harpy, Eagle grasped a snake in its beak and cactus in its talons, portraying an ancient Aztec myth. The outside rim of the seal contained the words "Territory of New Mexico," with the date of 1850 along the bottom in Roman numerals (MDCCCL). It is not clear when the Latin phrase "Crescit Eundo" was added to the seal, but in 1882, Territorial Secretary W.G. Ritch embellished the earlier design with the phrase, which translates as "it grows as it goes". This version of the seal was adopted as New Mexico's "official seal and coat of arms" by the Territorial Legislature in 1887. When New Mexico became a state in 1912, the Legislature named a Commission for the purpose of designing a State Seal. In the meantime, the Legislature authorized interim use of the Territorial Seal with the words "Great Seal of the State of New Mexico" substituted. 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 Lucero, filed its report adopting the general design of the Territorial Seal, substituting only the date 1912 for the Roman numerals. /Secretary of State of New Mexico, www.sos.state.nm.us/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1887

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New York State Seal

Shield. A blue, unclouded sky with the golden sun and its rays centered behind a range of three mountains, the middle one the highest; below, a ship and sloop under sail, facing each other and about to meet on a river, bordered by a grassy shore fringed with shrubs, all in natural colors. Crest (above the shield). On a wreath of blue and gold, an American eagle in its natural colors, facing toward the right (considered a good omen) above a two-thirds global drawing of Earth, showing the north Atlantic Ocean with outlines of its shores. Supporters (the two figures on the outside of the shield) appear to be joined with the shield as a unit formed by the extension of the scroll: On the right side of the shield. The figure of Liberty in natural colors, her unbound hair decorated with pearls. She is clothed in blue with red sandals, a loose robe of red hanging down from her shoulders to her feet. In her right hand, she holds a staff topped with a gold Phrygian cap; her left arm is bent at the elbow, the hand supporting the shield at its top right. A royal crown lies at her left foot, thrown down to illustrate the lessening of power of the English monarchy. On the left side of the shield. The figure of Justice in natural colors, her unbound hair decorated with pearls. She is clothed in gold with a blue belt fringed in red, wearing sandals and a robe as Liberty and bound about the eyes with a narrow band of cloth. In her right hand she holds a gold handled sword, held erect, and resting on the top left point of the shield; left arm is also bent at the elbow, holding scales in front of herself. Motto. On a silver scroll below the shield, in black type, the word "Excelsior" (Ever Upward). adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1778

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North Carolina State Seal

During the colonial period North Carolina used successively four different seals. Since independence six seals have been used. The 1971 General Assembly, in an effort to "provide a standard for the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina," passed the following Act amending the General Statutes provision relative to the State Seal: "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 than half-fronting each other and other- wise disposed as follows: Liberty, the first figure, standing, her pole with cap on it in her left hand and a scroll with the word "Constitution" inscribed thereon in her right hand. Plenty, the second figure, sitting down, her right arm half extended toward Liberty, three heads of grain in her right hand, and in her left, the small end of her horn, the mouth of which is resting at her feet, and the contents of the horn rolling out. The background on the seal shall contain a depiction of mountains running from left to right to the middle of the seal. A side view of a three-masted ship shall be located on the ocean and to the right of Plenty. The date "May 20, 1775" shall appear within the seal and across the top of the seal and the works "esse quam videri" shall appear at the bottom around the perimeter. No other words, figures or other embellishments shall appear on the seal." adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1971

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North Dakota State Seal

The description reads as follows: A tree in the open field, the trunk of which is surrounded by three bundles of wheat; on the right a plow, anvil and sledge; on the left, a bow crossed with three arrows, and an Indian on horseback pursuing a buffalo toward the setting sun; the foliage of the tree arched by a half circle of forty-two stars, surrounded by the motto Liberty and Union Now and Forever, One and Inseparable; the words Great Seal at the top; the words State of North Dakota at the bottom; October 1st on the left and 1889 on the right. To more clearly define the acceptable uses of the Great Seal and to end the dependency on the opinions, Senate Bill 2448 was passed by the Fifty-fourth Legislative Assembly. The bill gave the Secretary of State greater flexibility and authority in carrying out the custodial responsibilities related to the Great Seal. In addition, it specifically prohibited the use of the Great Seal for political purposes. The existing law was also amended to allow the Great Seal to be reproduced, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, on items for sale as gifts and souvenirs by the State Historical Society and the Parks and Recreation Department. /Discover ND, www.discovernd.com/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1889

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Ohio State Seal

The Great Seal of the State of Ohio has undergone several design changes throughout its history. The rotunda of the Statehouse, for example, has a magnificent skylight with a handpainted version of a Seal that was designed in 1847. This version is similar to Ohio's present seal, but features a canal boat that is totally missing from today's seal. In an attempt to reign in the design of the seal, the Legislature officially adopted Ohio's modern version in 1967, modifying it in 1996. The Scioto River flows across the center of the seal, separating cultivated fields from Mount Logan. Thirteen rays of a rising sun radiate over the mountain, symbolizing the 13 original colonies. In the foreground stands a sheaf of wheat, representing agriculture and bounty. Mimicking the sheaf of wheat is a bundle of 17 arrows, symbolizing Ohio as the 17th state to join the Union. adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1967, 1996

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Oklahoma State Seal

In the center shall be a five pointed star, with one ray directed upward. The center of the star shall contain the central device of the seal of the Territory of Oklahoma, including the words, "Labor Omnia Vincit." The upper left hand ray shall contain the symbol of the ancient seal of the Cherokee Nation, namely: A seven pointed star partially surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves. The ray directed upward shall contain the symbol of the ancient seal of the Chickasaw Nation, namely: An Indian warrior standing upright with bow and shield. The lower left hand ray shall contain the symbol of the ancient seal of the Creek Nation, namely: A sheaf of wheat and a plow. The upper right hand ray shall contain the symbol of the ancient seal of the Choctaw Nation, namely: A tomahawk, bow, and three crossed arrows. The lower right hand ray shall contain the symbol of the ancient seal of the Seminole Nation, namely: A village with houses and a factory beside a lake upon which an Indian is paddling a canoe. Surrounding the central star and grouped between its rays shall be forty-five small stars, divided into five clusters of nine stars each, representing the forty-five states of the Union, to which the forty-sixth is now added. In a circular band surrounding the whole device shall be inscribed, "GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1907." adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1907

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Oregon State Seal

The state seal consists of an escutcheon, or shield, supported by 33 stars and divided by an ordinary, or ribbon, with the inscription "The Union". Above the ordinary are the mountains and forests of Oregon, an elk with branching antlers, a covered wagon and ox team, the Pacific Ocean with setting sun, a departing British man-of-war signifying the departure of British influence in the region and an arriving American merchant ship signifying the rise of American power. Below the ordinary is a quartering with a sheaf of wheat, plow and pickax, which represent Oregon's mining and agricultural resources. The crest is the American Eagle. Around the perimeter of the seal is the legend "State of Oregon 1859". A resolution adopted by the Constitutional Convention in session on September 17, 1857, authorized the president to appoint a committee of three--Benjamin F. Burch, L.F. Grover and James K. Kelly--to report on a proper device for the seal of the state of Oregon. Harvey Gordon created a draft, to which the committee recommended certain additions that are all incorporated in the state seal. adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 17.09.1857

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Pennsylvania State Seal

Authorized by the General Assembly in 1791, the Seal of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a symbol of authenticity which verifies that proclamations, commissions and other papers of state are legal and official. The face of the Seal displays symbols identical to the Coat of Arms, without the supporting horses, and is used most frequently as an imprint. The reverse side, or counterseal, pictures Liberty dominating Tyranny in the form of a lion, along with the warning "Both Can't Survive." adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1791

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Rhode Island State Seal

At the center of the seal is an anchor, which symbolizes hope and reminds of the importance of water to the Ocean State. Above the anchor is the word "Hope," drawn from the words of Roger Williams to the early settlers: "Hope in the Divine." A garland of leaves surrounds the shield which holds the anchor and around it all are the words "Seal of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations 1636." adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1897

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South Carolina State Seal

On March 26, 1776, the Provincial Congress of South Carolina set up an independent government, electing John Rutledge, President. On April 2, 1776, the President and Privy Council were authorized by Resolution of the General Assembly "to design and cause to be made a Great Seal of South Carolina." After the Declaration of Independence, a design for the arms of an official great seal, prepared by William Henry Drayton, a member of the Privy Council, was accepted, together with a design for the reverse, said to have been designed by Arthur Middleton. Both designs were turned over to an engraver in Charles Town and engraved as a great seal, which was used by Pres. Rutledge for the first time on May 22, 1777. The Seal was made in form of a circle, four inches in diameter, and four-tenths of an inch thick. Both the arms and reverse symbolize the battle fought on June 28, 1776, between the unnamed, and unfinished fort at Sullivan's Island (now Fort Moultrie), and the British Fleet. /South Carolina Legislature Online, www.scstatehouse.net/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1777

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South Dakota State Seal

The state seal serves as a symbol of life in South Dakota. It depicts the state's diversity of commerce and resources: farming, ranching, industries, lumbering, manufacturing and mining. It bears the motto: "Under God the People Rule." The seal was adopted in 1885, four years before the state was admitted to the Union. adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1885

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Tennessee State Seal

The Roman numerals XVI signify that Tennessee was the 16th state to enter the Union. The plow, the sheaf of wheat and a cotton stalk symbolize the importance of agriculture, while the riverboat attests to the importance of river traffic to commerce. adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1796, 1987

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Texas State Seal

There shall be a Seal of the State which shall be kept by the secretary of state, and used by him officially under the direction of the governor. The Seal of the State shall be a star of five points, encircled by olive and live oak branches, and the words, "The State of Texas." /Texas Constitution, article IV, section 19./ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1839

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Utah State Seal

The Legislature of Utah by an act, approved April 3, 1896, provides for the State seal and specifies: "That 'The Great Seal of the State of Utah' shall be two and one-half inches in diameter, with the following device inscribed thereon: "In the center thereof a shield, with the American eagle with outstretched wings perched thereon; the top portion of said shield thereof pierced by six arrows; across the shield, below the arrows, the word 'Industry' appears, and beneath the word 'Industry' a beehive, on either side of which are growing sego lilies. Directly below the beehive are the figures '1847,' and on either side of said shield is our National flag. Encircling all, near the outer edge of said Seal, beginning at the lower left hand portion and ending at the lower right hand portion thereof, are the words, 'The Great Seal of the State of Utah,' at the base are the figures '1896.'" American Eagle with wings outspread, grasping six arrows in its talons, symbolizes protection in peace and war. Bee Hive is the symbol of industry. Sego Lily is a symbol of peace. Draped American Flag is the symbol of our support to the nation. "1847" is the year the Mormon Pioneer entered the Salt Lake Valley. "1896" is the year Utah was admitted as the 45th state (January 4, 1896). /Utah.gov/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1896

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Vermont State Seal

The first Great Seal of Vermont, designed by Ira Allen and made by Reuben Dean of Windsor in 1778, was accepted by resolution of the General Assembly of February 20, 1779. A new seal, made in 1821, included many of the basic design elements of the original seal, but was more pictorial than symbolic in character. The current seal, adopted in 1937, is a precise reproduction of the original Ira Allen design. While an interpretation of the meaning of the seal's different elements involves some supposition, the row of wooded hills certainly indicate the Green Mountains; the sheaves and cow, agriculture; the wavy lines at the top and bottom, sky and water. The most dominant feature of the seal is the central pine. The pine trees of that time were noble trees, sometimes looming a hundred feet higher than the other trees around them. /Secretary of state of Vermont, www.sec.state.vt.us/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1937

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Virginia State Seal

The great seal of the Commonwealth was adopted by the Virginia's Constitutional Convention on July 5, 1776. Its design was the work of a committee composed of George Mason, George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, and Robert Carter Nicholas. George Wythe was probably the principal designer taking its theme from ancient Roman mythology. The original design was never properly cast and a number of variations came into use. Attempting to legislate uniformity, the General Assemblies of 1873 and 1903 passed acts describing the seal in detail. In 1930, a committee was named to prepare an "accurate and faithful description of the great seal of the Commonwealth, as it was intended to be by Mason and Wythe and their associates." The committee set forth the official design in use today, which is essentially the design adopted by the Virginia's Constitutional Convention of 1776. The obverse side of the great seal depicts the Roman goddess Virtus representing the spirit of the Commonwealth. She is dressed as an Amazon, a sheathed sword in one hand, and a spear in the other, and one foot on the form of Tyranny, who is pictured with a broken chain in his left hand, a scourge in his right, and his fallen crown nearby, implying struggle that has ended in complete victory. Virginia's motto, Sic Semper Tyrannis (Latin for "Thus Always to Tyrants"), appears at the bottom. On the reverse side of the seal are the three Roman goddesses, Libertas (Liberty) in the center holding a wand and pileus in her right hand, Aerternitas (Eternity) with a globe and phoenix in her right hand, and Ceres (Fruitfulness) with a cornucopia in her left hand and an ear of wheat in her right. At the top is the word Perservando (Latin for "by Persevering"). A border of Virginia creeper encircles the designs on each side. Official colors were established by the Art Commission in 1949 and a water color, the only official model for flag makers and stationers, hangs in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The Secretary of the Commonwealth is designated by the Code of Virginia as the keeper of the great seal. The great seal of the Commonwealth is affixed to documents signed by the governor and intended for use before tribunals and for purposes outside the jurisdiction of Virginia. /Virginia Legislature, legis.state.va.us/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 05.07.1776

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Washington State Seal

A short time before Washington became a state in 1889, a committee brought an elaborate design for a state seal to Olympia jeweller Charles Talcott and asked him to complete it in time for the meeting of the first Legislature in November of that year. The design submitted by the committee was very complicated sketch, depicting the port of Tacoma, vast wheat fields, grazing sheep and Mount Rainier. Talcott argued that the design was too complicated and would be quickly outmoded by the growth of the state. Something simple, he suggested, would be timeless. He picked up an ink bottle and drew a circle around its base. Next he placed a silver dollar in the circle and drew an inner circle. Between these circles he lettered the words, "The Seal of the State of Washington, 1889". In the center he pasted a postage stamp bearing a picture of George Washington. The design was quickly accepted by the Legislature. /Secretary of state of Washington, www.secstate.wa.gov/

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West Virginia State Seal

Joseph H. Diss Debar, an artist from Doddridge County, was chosen by a committee of the Legislature to prepare drawings for an official seal for the State of West Virginia. The artist submitted his drawings with an explanation of each detail and from these was adopted, by the Legislature, a seal which has remained without change, the Official Seal of West Virginia. The seal contains the Latin motto, Montani Semper Liberi, which means "Mountaineers Are Always Free." A large stone in the center of the seal stands for strength. On the stone is the date the State was admitted to the Union, June 20, 1863. The farmer with his ax represents agriculture, and the miner holding his pick represents industry. In front of the rock are two rifles, crossed and surmounted at the place of contact by the Phrygian cap, or cap of liberty, indicating that freedom and liberty were won and will be maintained by the force of arms. While the seal was designed and adopted with two sides, only the front side is in common use. The reverse side of laurel and oak leaves, log house, hills, factories and boats is the Governor's Official Seal. The Constitution of West Virginia, Article 2, Section 7, provides that: "The present seal of the state, with its motto 'Montani Semper Liberi,' shall be the great seal of the State of West Virginia, and shall be kept by the secretary of state, to be used by him, officially as directed by law." /West Virginia Division of Tourism, www.callwva.com/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1863

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Wisconsin State Seal

This was established through Article XIII, Section 4, of the Wisconsin State Constitution. The seal consists of the coat of arms with the words "Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin" centered above and a curved line of 13 stars representing the 13 original United States centered below, surrounded by an ornamental border. A modified " lesser seal serves as the seal of the secretary of state. The history of Wisconsin is incorporated into the design of the seal. An official seal was created in 1836, when Wisconsin became a territory and revised three years later. When Wisconsin became a state in 1848, a new seal was created. In 1881 that design was also changed and that is the seal we use today. The Coat of Arms is basically the inner part of the Great Seal of Wisconsin minus the border, wording and stars. The seal contains a sailor with a coil of rope and a "yeoman" usually considered a miner with a pick, who jointly represent labor on water and land. These two figures support a quartered shield with symbols of the types of occupations which Wisconsin is known for -- agriculture (plow), mining (pick and shovel), manufacturing (arm and hammer) and navigation (anchor). Centered on the shield is a small U.S. coat of arms and the U.S. motto, "E pluribus unum" ("one out of many" referring to the union of U.S. states). That symbolized our loyalty to the Union. A cornucopia or horn of plenty, stands for prosperity and abundance, while a pyramid of 13 lead ingots represents mineral wealth and the 13 original United States. A banner is centered over the seal with Wisconsin's motto -- FORWARD and below is a badger, our animal. /Wisconsin Senate, www.legis.state.wi.us/senate/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1881

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Wyoming State Seal

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 typify the livestock and mining industries of the state. The number 44 on the five-pointed star signifies that Wyoming was the 44th state admitted to the Union. On top of the pillars rest lamps from which burn the Light of Knowledge. Scrolls encircling the two pillars bear the words, Oil, Mines, Livestock, and Grain, four of Wyoming's major industries. /Wyoming Secretary of State, www.wyoming.gov/ adopted (dd.mm.yyyy): 1893, 1921

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