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List of Oregon state symbols

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A navy blue flag with gold lettering and symbols; "STATE OF OREGON" is written above a shield, which is surrounded by 33 stars. "1859" appears underneath the shield.
The obverse of the flag of Oregon, the state's flag

The U.S. state of Oregon has 25 official emblems, as designated by the Oregon State Legislature. Most of the symbols are listed in Title 19, Chapter 186 of the Oregon Revised Statutes (2007 edition).[1]

Oregon's first symbol was the motto Alis Volat Propriis, written and translated in 1854. Latin for "She Flies With Her Own Wings", the motto remained unchanged until 1957, when "The Union" became the official state motto. Alis Volat Propriis became the state motto once again in 1987. Originally designed in 1857, usage of the Oregon State Seal began after Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859. The motto and seal served as Oregon's only symbols until more than 50 years later, when the Oregon-grape became the state flower in 1899. Oregon had 6 official symbols by 1950 and 22 symbols by 2000. The newest symbol of Oregon is the Dungeness crab, declared the state crustacean in 2009.

While some of the symbols are unique to Oregon, others are used by multiple states. For example, the Western Meadowlark, Oregon's state bird, is also an official symbol for Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming.[2] The North American Beaver is also the state animal of New York, and the chinook salmon (sometimes known as the king salmon) is also the state fish of Alaska.[3][4] The square dance and milk are commonly used state dances and state beverages, respectively.

Several symbols have been proposed for addition to the list of official state symbols but were ultimately rejected:

  • In 1993, the Oregon Society of Soil Scientists convinced a state representative to introduce legislation to have jory silty clay loam, a red rich soil found chiefly in the Willamette and Umpqua valleys, declared the state soil of Oregon, but the proposal died in a House committee.[5]
  • In 1997, the Oregon Waltz was approved as the state waltz by the Oregon House, but the proposal did not succeed in the Senate.[6]
  • In 2001, legislation designating the Kiger Mustang, a horse breed unique to southeastern Oregon, as the state horse was introduced, but not adopted.[7]
  • In 2003, it was suggested that Oregon have an official state tartan, but the bill never passed out of committee.[8]

State symbols

Type Symbol Description Adopted Image Note
Animal American Beaver
(Castor canadensis)) 		Found in most of the larger streams and rivers in Oregon, the beaver is the largest of the North American rodents. Once overtrapped by early settlers and prized for its fur, populations have recovered through proper management and partial protection. Oregon is known as the "Beaver State" and Oregon State University's athletic teams are called the "Beavers."[9][10] 1969 A wet rodent with coarse dark brown fur standing in water. [11]
Beverage Milk Milk was recognized as the state's beverage because the production and manufacture of dairy products are major contributors to Oregon's economy. Tillamook County is particularly known for its dairy farms. Water had also been proposed at the state beverage in the same legislative session, but that proposal was tabled in favor of the milk legislation.[6] 1997 A red-capped bottle of milk with cream along the top. [12]
Bird Western Meadowlark
(Sturnella neglecta) 		Chosen as the state bird in 1927 by Oregon's school children in a poll sponsored by the Oregon Audubon Society, the Western Meadowlark is native throughout western North America and is known for its "distinctive and beautiful song." 1927 A bird with yellow underparts, a black "V" on the breast, and white flanks which are streaked with black [13]
Crustacean Dungeness crab
(Cancer magister) 		Based on lobbying from schoolchildren at Sunset Primary School in West Linn, Oregon, and citing its importance to the Oregon economy, the Oregon State Legislature designated the Dungeness crab as the state crustacean in 2009. 2009 A crab in the grass, alongside a ruler, exhibiting a purple body and five pairs of yellow legs. [14]
Dance Square dance A folk dance with four couples (eight dancers) arranged in a square, the "lively spirit of the [square] dance exemplifies the friendly, free nature and enthusiasm that are a part of the Oregon Character." The Oregon Waltz had been proposed as the state waltz in 1997, but the proposal was rejected.[6] 1977 A group of dancers in colorful Western clothing promenading in a circle, with a man speaking into a microphone on a stage in the background. [15]
Father Dr. John McLoughlin McLoughlin was the Chief Factor of the Columbia Fur District of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Vancouver. In the late 1840s his general store in Oregon City was famous as the last stop on the Oregon Trail. He became designated as the "Father of Oregon" for his role in assisting the American cause in the Oregon Country. 1957 An elderly man with black clothing and white hair down to his shoulders. [16]
[17]
Fish Chinook salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) 		Salmon was essential for the coastal Native Americans' life, and was the subject of many legends and taboos. The largest of the Pacific salmon, the chinook provides both sport and commercial fishing, but is under threat from dams and fishing. 1961 A fish with a blue-green back and top of the head, silvery sides, a white ventral surface, and black spots on its tail and the upper half of its body. [18]
Flag Flag of Oregon Oregon's flag is navy blue with gold lettering and imagery, and is the only flag in the U.S. to have a different pattern on the reverse side. The obverse depicts the state seal with "STATE OF OREGON" displayed above and "1859" displayed below (the year Oregon was admitted to The Union). The reverse depicts a beaver in the center.[15] 1925 A navy blue flag with gold lettering and symbols; "STATE OF OREGON" is written above a shield, which is surrounded by 33 stars. "1859" appears underneath the shield.
A navy blue flag depicting a gold-colored beaver in the center. 		[1]
[6]
Flower Oregon-grape
(Mahonia aquifolium) 		Native to the North American west coast, the Oregon-grape is an evergreen shrub that contains small purplish-black fruits that were included in smaller quantities in the traditional diets of Pacific Northwest aboriginal peoples. Today they are sometimes used to make jelly, alone or mixed with salal berries, another berry native to the Northwest.[19] 1899 Clusters of yellow flowers surrounded by pointed, waxy green leaves. [20]
Fossil Metasequoia Dawn redwood flourished in the Miocene epoch and would become one of the most abundantly found fossils in Oregon today. While long extinct in the state, paleontologists discovered living 100-foot (30 m) Metasequoia trees in China more than 50 years ago and brought live trees back to the U.S. for propagation, thus ensuring their continued survival. 2005 A thick tree trunk with numerous branches breaking away as far down as the base. [21]
[22]
Fruit Pear
(Pyrus) 		Pear orchards flourish in Oregon's river valley growing regions, producing about 800 million pears per year. Pears are Oregon's number one tree fruit crop. 2005 Two light green fruits with hints of red hanging on a tree branch and exhibiting the "pear" shape of a elongated basal portion and a bulbous end. [23]
Gemstone Oregon sunstone Sunstones are plagioclase feldspars, which when viewed from certain directions exhibit a brilliant spangled appearance. The gemstone has increased tourism and economic development in southeastern Oregon, attracting collectors and miners to the region. 1987 A multi-surfaced, pink rock with light reflecting at various points. [21]
Hostess Miss Oregon Founded in 1947 as the Miss Oregon Pageant by merchants in the coastal city of Seaside,[24] the competition is a regional scholarship contest and beauty pageant that selects the representative for Oregon in the Miss America pageant. The annual event includes contestants from across the state and awards scholarships to the participants. 1969 A young woman and an older man, both dressed in formal wear, leaning over to sign a poster. [25]
Insect Oregon Swallowtail
(Papilio oregonius) 		Containing the word Oregon in both its common and scientific names, this swallowtail species is native to the Northwest region, primarily found in the sagebrush canyons of the Columbia River and its tributaries. 1979 A 13-cent U.S. stamp with a picture of a butterfly that has a yellow abdomen with black lines, and wings with concave spots that are scalloped inwards with a reddish eyespots along the lower border. [26]
Mother Tabitha Brown Brown was a pioneer emigrant who traveled the Oregon Trail to the Oregon Country, where she helped to found Tualatin Academy, which would grow to become Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.[27] Brown was titled the "Mother of Oregon" for representing the "distinctive pioneer heritage and the charitable and compassionate nature of Oregon's people." 1987 A black and white picture of an elderly woman wearing a white bonnet and dark clothing. [16]
Motto Alis Volat Propriis Latin for "She Flies With Her Own Wings", Alis Volat Propriis was the motto of Oregon from 1854 until it was changed to "The Union" in 1957. Written by Judge Jesse Quinn Thornton, the original motto was adopted once again by the 1987 Legislature. 1987
1854–1957 		A blue seal that contains a Native American, a beaver, a ship, an eagle, five stars along the bottom, and the Latin phrase Alis Volat Propriis across the top. [28]
Mushroom Pacific Golden Chanterelle
(Cantharellus cibarius) 		Most known for its "golden hue, chalice shape and delicate woodsy flavor", chanterelle is a fungus found throughout Oregon. Tillamook State Forest annually produces one of the world's largest chanterelle harvests. 1999 Yellow, funnel-shaped fungi with gill-like ridges along the side growing from a surface of dirt and leaves. [29]
Nut Hazelnut Hazelnuts, also known as filberts, are produced in commercial quantities in Oregon, which has an ideal climate for growing the nuts. According to the state, Oregon's Willamette Valley is home to 99% of the U.S. hazelnut industry. 1989 Two round nuts, one with its shell and one without, yellow to light brown in color. [30]
Rock Thunderegg Nodule-like geological structures similar to geodes, thundereggs are rough spheres found throughout Oregon, the largest deposits found in Crook, Jefferson, Malheur, Wasco and Wheeler counties.[31] The world's largest thunderegg, a 1.75 ton specimen, is housed by the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Oregon.[32] 1965 A cross section of a rock-like structure, with white coloring in a triangle shape on the inside and pink and light brown coloring on the outside. [1]
Seal Oregon State Seal In 1857, a resolution adopted by the Oregon Constitutional Convention authorized the president to appoint a committee consisting of Benjamin F. Burch, La Fayette Grover and James K. Kelly to design a new seal to be used once statehood was achieved. Harvey Gordon designed the seal, though additions were added through committee recommendations. Usage began after Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859.[33] 1859 A navy blue seal with gold lettering and imagery. The seal contains a shield, supported by 33 stars and with an eagle with its wings spread on top; "STATE OF OREGON" is written above the eagle and "1859" appears below the shield. Within the shield appear a sun with its rays extending to two ships and a mountain and trees, two oxen pulling a covered wagon, and a ribbon containing "THE UNION". [1]
[34]
Seashell Oregon hairy triton
(Fusitriton oregonensis) 		Named oregonensis by conchologist John Howard Redfield in 1846 to honor the Oregon Territory, the Oregon hairy triton is covered with bristly periostracum and found along the West Coast, washing up at high tide.[35] 1991 A light brown shell, covered with gray-brown bristly periostracum. [1]
[34]
Song "Oregon, My Oregon" In 1920, the Society of Oregon Composers held a competition to select a state song. The winning entry was a collaboration between lyricist John Andrew Buchanan and composer Henry Bernard Murtagh.[36] 1927 — [37]
Statehood
Pageant 		Champoeg Historical Pageant Each summer, the Champoeg Historical Pageant takes place at Champoeg State Park, where the first Oregon government was formed. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department encourages the development of the pageant and promotes increased attendance at its performances. 1987 — [1]
Team Portland Trail Blazers of 1990–1991 The Trail Blazers of 1990–1991 were designated as the official team of Oregon for their success in setting a franchise record of 63 victories, including a 16-game winning streak. 1991 One side of a building mostly of glass windows, with a covered entrance extending to a brick plaza. Two trees grow alongside the building, and a partly cloudy sky appears in the background. [38]
Tree Douglas-fir
(Pseudotsuga menziesii) 		Named after David Douglas, a Scottish botanist who traveled through Oregon in the 1820s, the douglas-fir is an evergreen conifer dominant throughout the region, occurring in nearly all forest types and able to compete well on most parent materials and slopes. Due to its "strength, stiffness and moderate weight", the species is an invaluable timber product. 1939 Several tall douglas-fir trees with a blue sky and water in the background. [34]

See also

References

General
  • "State Symbols". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Chapter 186 — State Emblems; State Boundary". Oregon Revised Statutes. 2007. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  2. ^ "List of State Birds". National Audubon Society. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  3. ^ "New York State Animal - Beaver". New York State Library. July 3, 2009. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  4. ^ Rundquist, Tim (2000). How Heavy is the Mountain: An Alaskan Tour Manual/Novel. Writers Club Press. p. 492. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  5. ^ McKenzie, Bill (March 15, 1993). "The real dirt". The Oregonian. Advance Publications. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d "Is there no end to this?". The Register-Guard. Guard Publishing. April 7, 1997. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
  7. ^ Steves, David (January 23, 2001). "Senator trots out horse nominee". The Register-Guard. Guard Publishing. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
  8. ^ "Senate Joint Resolution 31". Oregon Revised Statutes. 2003. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  9. ^ "Oregon Facts for School Reports - More Symbols". Oregon.gov. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  10. ^ "Oregon State University Official Athletic Site". CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  11. ^ "Learning Resources - State Symbols: Animal". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  12. ^ "State Symbols: Animal to Fish". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  13. ^ "Learning Resources - State Symbols: Bird". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  14. ^ "House Joint Resolution 37, 2009 (Enrolled)". Oregon State Legislature. 2009. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
  15. ^ a b "Oregon Almanac: Dance to Hot Springs". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  16. ^ a b "Oregon Legislature Kids Page". Oregon State Legislature. Retrieved December 8, 2006.
  17. ^ "Learning Resources - People to Know: John McLoughlin". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  18. ^ "Learning Resources - State Symbols: Fish". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  19. ^ Pojar, Jim; MacKinnon, Andy, eds. (1994). Plants of Coastal British Columbia: Including Washington, Oregon & Alaska, rev. ed. Vancouver: Lone Pine Publishing. p. 95. ISBN 978-1-55105-532-9.
  20. ^ "Learning Resources - State Symbols: Flower". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  21. ^ a b "State Symbols: Flag to Motto". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  22. ^ "Designates Metasequoia as official state fossil". Oregon State Legislature. 2005. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  23. ^ "Oregon's Pear Industry". Oregon.gov. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  24. ^ "Miss Oregon Pageant starts today in Seaside". The Oregonian. Advance Publications. July 8, 2004. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  25. ^ "The Miss Oregon Scholarship Program: Interesting Facts". The Miss Oregon Scholarship Program. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  26. ^ "Oregon Facts for School Reports - More Symbols". Oregon.gov. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
  27. ^ Hastings, Terry (1980). Hillsboro: My Home Town. Hillsboro Elementary School District 7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "Oregon State Motto Timeline". Oregon State Legislature. Retrieved November 23, 2006.
  29. ^ Springhetti, Jim (October 18, 2008). "Chanterelles pop up, the perfect quarry". The Oregonian. Advance Publications. Retrieved October 24, 2009.
  30. ^ "Oregon's Hazelnut Industry". Oregon.gov. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  31. ^ "Oregon Almanac". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
  32. ^ Christie, Tim (March 26, 2007). "Rock hounds check out goods at 18th annual Gem Faire". The Register-Guard. Guard Publishing.
  33. ^ Corning, Howard (1989). Dictionary of Oregon History. Binfords & Mort Publishing. p. 233. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  34. ^ a b c "State Symbols: Mushroom to Tree". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  35. ^ Bragg, John (2009). "Hairy Oregon Shell Comes from a Famous Family" (PDF). South Slough News. Oregon.gov. p. 1. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  36. ^ "Oregon My Oregon". Oregon History Project. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  37. ^ "Oregon Almanac:State Song". Oregon State Archives. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  38. ^ "State lawmakers recognize Trail Blazers' 63-19 mark". The Register-Guard. Guard Publishing. June 19, 1991. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
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