This is a list of Maine state symbols in the United States. [1] The symbols were recognized and signed into law by the Maine Legislature and governor of Maine and are officially listed in the Maine Laws in article 1, chapter 9. [2]
The oldest symbols, the state flag and the state seal, were adopted in 1820, [3] and the most recent additions to the list were, the state song of the 21st century, My Sweet Maine in 2021 [4] and the state butterfly, the pink-edged sulphur in 2023. [5]
| Symbol | Name | Taxonomy | Adopted | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State animal | Moose | Alces alces | 1979 | |
| State ballad | The Ballad of the 20th Maine note | 2019 | ||
| State berry | Blueberry | Accinium angustifolium | 1991 | |
| State beverage | Moxie | 2005 | ||
| State bird | Black-capped chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | 1927 | |
| State butterfly | Pink-edged sulphur | Colias interior | 2023 | |
| State cat | Maine Coon | 1985 | ||
| State crustacean | American Lobster | Homarus americanus | 2016 | |
| State dessert | Blueberry pie | 2011 | ||
| State fish | Landlocked Atlantic salmon | Salmo salar | 1969 | |
| State flag | Flag of Maine | 1901 | ||
| State flower | White Pine Cone and Tassel | Pinus strobus (Linnaeus) | 1895 | |
| State fossil | Pertica quadrifaria | Pertica quadrifaria | 1985 | |
| State gemstone | Tourmaline | Ditrigonal pyramidal | 1971 | |
| State Herb | Wintergreen | Gaultheria procumbens | 1999 | |
| State insect | Honey bee | Apis mellifera | 1975 | |
| State motto | Dirigo (I lead) | 1820 | ||
| State Nickname | The Pine Tree State | 1860 | ||
| State seal | Seal of Maine | 1820 | ||
| State soil | Chesuncook | 1999 | ||
| State song | The Maine song note | 1937 | ||
| State song of 21st century | My Sweet Maine note | 2021 | ||
| State treat | Whoopie pie | 2011 | ||
| State sweetener | Maine Maple syrup | 2015 | ||
| State tree | Eastern White Pine | Pinus strobus | 1945 | |
| State sailing vessel | Bowdoin | 1986 |
The flag of the state of Oregon is a two-sided flag in navy blue and gold with an optional gold fringe. On the front is the escutcheon from the state seal and on the reverse is a gold figure of a beaver, the state animal. Oregon is the only U.S. State to feature different designs on either side of its flag.
The flag of Minnesota is the state flag of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its design features a modified version of the seal of Minnesota emblazoned on a blue field. The flag's first version was adopted in 1893, in advance of the state's mounting an exhibition at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. It was significantly revised in 1957 and received a minor update in 1983.
The Great Seal of the State of Maine was adopted in June 1820. The concept of the design is attributed to Benjamin Vaughan of Hallowell, Maine, while the original sketch is credited to Bertha Smouse, the step-daughter of Col. Isaac Reed of Waldoboro, Maine, who purportedly wrote its official description and explanation. There have been variations in the details of the seal, but the overall design and images remain true to the original. The center of the seal is a shield adorned with a tranquil scene of a moose resting in a field bordered by water and woods; a pine tree stands tall directly behind the moose. On either side of the shield, a farmer rests on his scythe, and a sailor leans on an anchor. Above the shield is the motto "Dirigo" and a stylized North Star. Below the shield is a banner that reads "Maine". The legislature of 1919 decided that the design of the seal should no longer vary, and the design is still used today.
The Great Seal of the State of Minnesota is the state seal of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Originally adopted in 1858 following Minnesota's statehood, the seal's original version is an adaptation of Minnesota's territorial seal modified by the state's first governor and fur trader, Henry Hastings Sibley. It has been modified several times by the state legislature since 1858, including in 1971 and 1983. The seal's design symbolizes many important aspects to Minnesota's history and culture; such as the growth of industry powered by Saint Anthony Falls, the state's Native American heritage, the importance of industries like lumber and agriculture, and the taming of the wilderness by the state's early pioneers. The seal is prominently featured on the Minnesotan flag.
The flag of the U.S. state of Maine from 1901 to 1909 was the first official flag to be used to represent the state other than its militia; it was later replaced by a more standard military-style flag in 1909. The flag has recently seen a revival of interest due to local Maine vexillologists advocating for its re-adoption and businesses selling reproductions of it. There is a movement to have Maine readopt this flag design.
