List of Virginia state symbols

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Location of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States of America Map of USA VA.svg
Location of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States of America

This is a list of symbols of the United States Commonwealth of Virginia. Most of the items in the list are officially recognized symbols created by an act of the Virginia General Assembly and signed into law by the governor. The state nickname, The Old Dominion, is the oldest symbol. However, it, as well as Virginia's other nicknames, are not official. The nickname "Mother of Presidents" is also historic, as eight Virginians have served as President of the United States, including four of the first five: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson. Additionally, the nickname "Mother of States" comes from being the first state settled in the United States. As well, Sam Houston, president of the Republic of Texas, Fulwar Skipwith, the president of the Republic of West Florida, and Joseph Jenkins Roberts, the first president of Liberia were from Virginia.

Contents

The state motto and seal have been official since Virginia declared its independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Virginia is one of only two states (the other being Mississippi with the Magnolia) to have the same plant for state flower and state tree, the Flowering Dogwood. [1] Most of the symbols were made official in the late 20th century.

Insignia

TypeSymbolDescriptionYearImageSource
Flag Flag of Virginia Defined as:

The flag of the Commonwealth shall hereafter be made of bunting or merino. It shall be a deep blue field, with a circular white centre of the same material. Upon this circle shall be painted or embroidered, to show on both sides alike, the coat of arms of the Commonwealth, as described in § 7.1-26 for the obverse of the great seal of the Commonwealth; and there shall be a white silk fringe on the outer edge, furthest from the flagstaff. This shall be known and respected as the flag of Virginia. (Code 1950, § 7-32; 1966, c. 102.) [2]

First made in 1833, it was not adopted until 1861. The flag was last updated in 1950.		1950 Flag of Virginia.svg [3] [4]

[5]

Motto Sic semper tyrannis
(Thus always to tyrants)		Proposed by George Mason to be included in the State Seal in 1776. Translated from Latin as "Thus Always to Tyrants", it means that tyrants will eventually be overthrown. A joke dating back to the Civil War states that the motto means "Get your foot off my neck", referencing the seal. The motto is included in the legislature for the state seal.1776 Seal of Virginia, on title page of Redpath's biography of John Brown.jpg [6] [7] [8]
Nicknames Old Dominion A popular legend states that Charles II referred to Virginia as the Old Dominion for their loyalty to the English crown. The Colony of Virginia's motto, En dat Virginia quintam(Behold, Virginia gives the fifth) refers to the claim of Virginia as England's 5th Dominion, after England, France, Scotland, and Ireland. Virginia has a public university called Old Dominion University.Traditional Coat of arms of the Virginia Company.svg [9] [10]
Mother of Presidents8 United States presidents have been born in Virginia: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.Traditional [11] [12]
Mother of StatesSince it's settlement in 1606, Virginia has been carved into eight more states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.Traditional [13] [14]
Seal Seal of Virginia Defined as:

The great seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall consist of two metallic discs, two and one-fourth inches in diameter, with an ornamental border one fourth of an inch wide, with such words and figures engraved thereon as will, when used, produce impressions to be described as follows: On the obverse, Virtus, the genius of the Commonwealth, dressed as an Amazon, resting on a spear in her right hand, point downward, touching the earth; and holding in her left hand, a sheathed sword, or parazonium, pointing upward; her head erect and face upturned; her left foot on the form of Tyranny represented by the prostrate body of a man, with his head to her left, his fallen crown nearby, a broken chain in his left hand, and a scourge in his right. Above the group and within the border conforming therewith, shall be the word "Virginia", and, in the space below, on a curved line, shall be the motto, "Sic Semper Tyrannis." On the reverse, shall be placed a group consisting of Libertas, holding a wand and pileus in her right hand; on her right, Aeternitas, with a globe and phoenix in her right hand; on the left of Libertas, Ceres, with a cornucopia in her left hand, and an ear of wheat in her right; over this device, in a curved line, the word "Perseverando." (Code 1950, § 7-26; 1966, c. 102.)

The seal was called for during the convention of 1776, and designed by George Wythe. The seal is prominently featured on the state flag.		1776

(Standardized in 1950)

 Seal of Virginia.svg [15] [16]
Slogan Virginia Is for Lovers Stylized in all caps as Virginia is for Lo❤ers. The slogan was designed by the Martin Agency in 1969, who had initially used the slogan separately as "Virginia is for History lovers", "Virginia is for Beach lovers", and "Virginia is for Mountain lovers". After the ads were found to be too limiting, they were formed into the current slogan. The slogan is popular within both United States and Virginia culture, used in Virginia's license plates and welcome signs, and as a slogan for the Virginia Department of Elections and Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. The slogan was added into the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame in 2009, and was named as one of the top ten advertising campaigns of all time by Forbes.1969 Virginia Is For Lovers Horizontal Logo.svg [17] [18] [19]

Flora

TypeSymbolYearImage
Flower American Dogwood
(Cornus florida)		1918 [20] [21] Benthamidia florida2.jpg
Tree American Dogwood
(Cornus florida)		1956 [22] [23] Benthamidia florida2.jpg

Fauna

TypeSymbolYearImage
Bat Virginia Big-Eared Bat
(Corynorhinos townsendii virginianus)		2005 [24] [25] Virginia big-eared bat female.JPG
Bird Northern Cardinal
(Cardinalis cardinalis)		1950 [26] [27] Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) male.jpg
Dog American Foxhound
(Canis lupus familiaris)		1966 [28] [29] AmericanFoxhound.jpg
Fresh Water Fish Brook trout
(Salvelinus fontinalis)		1993 [30] [31] Salvelinus fontinalis.jpg
Insect Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
(Papilio glaucus)		1991 [32] [33] Pristine Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.jpg
Pollinator European honey bee
(Apis mellifera)		2024 [34] [35] Apis mellifera Western honey bee.jpg
Pony Chincoteague Pony
(Equus caballus)		2023 [36] [37] Wild Pony at Assateague.jpg
Salamander Red Salamander
(Pseudotriton ruber)		2018 [38] [39] Pseudotriton ruber - Red Salamander.jpg
Salt Water Fish Striped Bass
(Morone saxatilis)		2011 [40] [41] Striped Bass 2.jpg
Shell Eastern oyster
(Crassostrea virginica)		1974 [42] [43] OysterBed.jpg
Snake Eastern garter snake
(Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)		2016 [44] [45] Eastern Garter Snake - Thamnophis sirtalis, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Woodbridge, Virginia (24086318108).jpg

Geology

TypeSymbolYearImage
Fossil Chesapecten jeffersonius 1993 [46] [47] Chesapecten Jeffersonius Inside.jpg
Rock Nelsonite 2016 [48] [49] Nelsonite (rock).jpg

Culture

TypeSymbolYearImage
Boat Chesapeake Bay deadrise 1988 [50] [51] Chesapeake Bay Deadrises at 2016 Norfolk Harborfest.jpg
Drink Milk 1982 [52] [53] Milk glass.jpg
Folk dance Square dance 1991 [54] [55] Square Dance Group.jpg
Gold Mining Interpretive CenterMonroe Park2001 [56] [57]
Maple Festival Highland County Maple Festival 2014 [58] [59]
Motor Sports MuseumWood Brothers Racing Museum and Virginia Motor Sports Hall of Fame1995 [60] [61]
OpryVirginia Opry2020 [62] [63]
Outdoor DramaThe Trail of the Lonesome Pine Outdoor Drama1994 [64] [65]
The Long Way Home (Historical)1994 [64] [66]
Shakespeare FestivalVirginia Shakespeare Festival2013 [67] [68]
Songs Carry Me Back to Old Virginny (Emeritus)1997 [69] [70]
Sweet Virginia Breeze (Popular)2015 [71] [72]
Our Great Virginia (Traditional)
Spirit George Washington's Rye Whiskey 2017 [73] [74] Rye Whiskey Bottle.jpg
Sports hall of fame Virginia Sports Hall of Fame 1996 [75] [76]
Steam locomotive Norfolk and Western 611 2017 [77] [78] N&W J No. 611 Railroad Avenue, Craigsville, VA.jpg
Television Series"Song of the Mountains"2017 [79] [80]
War Memorial Museum Virginia War Museum 1997 [81] [82] Virginiawarmuseumfront.jpg

Notes

C The Virginia Colony was nicknamed "The Old Dominion" by King Charles II for its perceived loyalty to the English monarchy during the English Civil War. [83] [ dubious – discuss ][ better source needed ]

D Pictures of Virginia license plates throughout the years can be found here.

E In 1940, Virginia made "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" the state song, but it was retired in 1997 and reclassified as the state song emeritus. [84]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "State Trees & State Flowers". United States National Arboreteum. March 5, 2006. Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
  2. ↑ Commonwealth of Virginia (February 1, 1950). "§ 1-506. Flag of the Commonwealth". Code of Virginia . Virginia: Commonwealth of Virginia. Retrieved January 28, 2015. The flag of the Commonwealth shall be a deep blue field, with a circular white centre of the same material. Upon this circle shall be painted or embroidered, to show on both sides alike, the coat of arms of the Commonwealth, as described in § 1-500 for the obverse of the great seal of the Commonwealth; and there may be a white fringe on the outer edge, furthest from the flagstaff. This shall be known and respected as the flag of the Commonwealth. (Code 1950, § 7-32; 1966, c. 102, § 7.1-32; 2005, c. 839.)
  3. ↑ "The History of the Virginia State Flag". www.usflagsupply.com. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  4. ↑ "Virginia Flag". Flagdom. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  5. ↑ "§ 1-506. Flag of the Commonwealth". law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  6. ↑ Rowland, Kate Mason (1892). The Life of George Mason, 1725-1792. G.P. Putnam's Sons.
  7. ↑ von Borcke, Heros (April 1866). "Memoirs of the Confederate War for Independence". Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine . American edition, vol. 62. 99 (606). New York: Leonard Scott & Co.: 462. Retrieved 21 August 2010. ...the coat of arms of the state of Virginia, bearing the motto, Sic semper tyrannis, which the soldiers translated, "Take your foot off my neck", from the action of the principal figure ... representing Liberty, who, with a lance in her right hand, is standing over the conquered and prostrate tyrant, and apparently trampling on him with her heel.
  8. ↑ "§ 1-500. The great seal". law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  9. ↑ Tarter, Brent. "Old Dominion". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
  10. ↑ "What's in a name? | Virginia as Old Dominion". The Virginian-Pilot. 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
  11. ↑ "Virginia Presidents - Virginia Is For Lovers". www.virginia.org. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
  12. ↑ "Map Monday: From cradle to president: Here are the states with presidential birthplaces". www.ncsl.org. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
  13. ↑ Robertson 1993 , pp. 8–12
  14. ↑ "History and Facts on Virginia". www.commonwealth.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
  15. ↑ "§ 1-500. The great seal". law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  16. ↑ "Capitol Classroom State Emblems". capclass.virginiageneralassembly.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  17. ↑ "Virginia is for Lovers - Virginia Is For Lovers". www.virginia.org. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  18. ↑ "Where did the phrase 'Virginia is For Lovers' originate?". WRIC. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  19. ↑ "Home". www.elections.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  20. ↑ "§ 1-510. Official emblems and designations". law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  21. ↑ "The History of the Dogwood Tree - Creech Landscape". 2022-04-22. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  22. ↑ "Virginia State Tree". eReferenceDesk. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  23. ↑ Staff, Dogwood. "From the state rock to the state flower, here's how Virginia got its symbols". vadogwood.com. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  24. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 2005 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  25. ↑ Nunn, John (2015-07-29). "Batty poetry - Virginia Governor inspired by the Virginia big-eared bat". Bat Conservation International. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  26. ↑ "§ 1-510. Official emblems and designations". law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  27. ↑ Staff, Dogwood. "From the state rock to the state flower, here's how Virginia got its symbols". vadogwood.com. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  28. ↑ "Celebrate the 4th with 5 State Dogs". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  29. ↑ "§ 1-510. Official emblems and designations". law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  30. ↑ "§ 1-510. Official emblems and designations". law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  31. ↑ Hollohan, Jennifer (2023-06-15). "Discover the Official State Fish of Virginia (And Where You Can Catch Them This Summer)". A-Z Animals. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  32. ↑ "VIRGINIA ADOPTED BUTTERFLY IN 1991". The Virginian-Pilot. 2002-12-20. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  33. ↑ "§ 1-510. Official emblems and designations". law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  34. ↑ "The European honey bee is now Virginia's official state pollinator". Animals. NPR. 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  35. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 2024 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  36. ↑ General Assembly of Virginia. "Bill Tracking - 2023 session > Legislation - An Act to amend and reenact § 1-510 of the Code of Virginia, relating to official emblems and designations; state pony". lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  37. ↑ "Governor Glenn Youngkin Signs Legislation Designating Chincoteague Pony as Virginia's State Pony". www.governor.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  38. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 2018 session > Legislation".
  39. ↑ "It's Official, We Have a State Salamander". www.dcr.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  40. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 2011 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  41. ↑ "Virginia's "Official" Saltwater Fish | Bacon's Rebellion -". Bacon's Rebellion. 2011-02-23. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  42. ↑ "§ 1-510. Official emblems and designations". law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  43. ↑ Staff, Dogwood. "From the state rock to the state flower, here's how Virginia got its symbols". vadogwood.com. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  44. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 2016 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  45. ↑ Press, Associated. "Eastern garter gets state snake designation". The News Leader. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  46. ↑ "§ 1-510. Official emblems and designations". law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  47. ↑ "AFTER 4 MILLION YEARS, VA. MAY FINALLY GET STATE FOSSIL". The Virginian-Pilot. 1993-02-03. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  48. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 2016 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  49. ↑ AP (2016-04-06). "Nelsonite to become Virginia's official state rock". wdbj7.com. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  50. ↑ "Virginia governor honors the Chesapeake Bay deadrise". www.nationalfisherman.com. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  51. ↑ "§ 1-510. Official emblems and designations". law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  52. ↑ "§ 1-510. Official emblems and designations". law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  53. ↑ USA, State Symbols (2014-04-30). "Virginia State Beverage | Milk". statesymbolsusa.org. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  54. ↑ "§ 1-510. Official emblems and designations". law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  55. ↑ USA, State Symbols (2014-04-30). "Virginia State Folk Dance | square Dance". statesymbolsusa.org. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  56. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 2001 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  57. ↑ USA, State Symbols (2014-04-30). "Virginia State Gold Mining Interpretive Center | Monroe Park". statesymbolsusa.org. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  58. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 2014 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  59. ↑ "Maple Festival". Highland County Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  60. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 1995 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  61. ↑ USA, State Symbols (2014-04-30). "Virginia State Motor Sports Museum | Wood Brothers Racing Museum & VA Motor Sports Hall of Fame". statesymbolsusa.org. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  62. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 2020 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  63. ↑ "Virginia Opry is Now State's Official Opry". Alleghany Journal. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  64. 1 2 "Bill Tracking - 1994 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  65. ↑ USA, State Symbols (2014-04-30). "Virginia State Outdoor Drama | Trail of the Lonesome Pine". statesymbolsusa.org. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  66. ↑ "Outdoor play returns to Radford with story of Mary Draper Ingles". News Journal. 2017-04-15. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  67. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 2013 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  68. ↑ "Virginia Shakespeare Festival receives official state designation". William & Mary. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  69. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 1997 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  70. ↑ Oliver, Ned (2019-02-20). "Why is a racist minstrel tune still recognized in Virginia code as the 'state song emeritus?' • Virginia Mercury". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  71. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 2015 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  72. ↑ Service, From Capital News. "Virginia now has 2 state songs". The Progress Index. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  73. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 2017 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  74. ↑ "Virginia to honor George Washington's Whiskey". AP News. 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  75. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 1996 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  76. ↑ "Virginia Sports Hall of Fame". Virginia Beach, VA. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  77. ↑ "Locomotive Pics" (PDF). dhr.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  78. ↑ "The Queen of Steam is named as the Official Steam Locomotive of Virginia". WFXR . May 23, 2017. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  79. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 2017 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  80. ↑ Goad, John Curtis (2017-02-10). "Song Of The Mountains to be Virginia's official TV series". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  81. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 1997 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  82. ↑ USA, State Symbols (2014-04-30). "Virginia State War Memorial Museum | Virginia War Museum". statesymbolsusa.org. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  83. ↑ "How did Virginia get its nickname the old dominion?". Blurt It. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
  84. ↑ "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny". Virginia Historical Society. January 11, 2007. Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
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