After the U.S. declared its official independence, many things began to change, and a new historical chapter started to take place in the United States.
Shortly after America’s independence in 1776, states like Iowa began to adopt their own official state seal, motto, nicknames, and much more, which are all used to symbolize and represent the uniqueness of each state and what they stand for.
So, what does the Iowa state seal represent? The Iowa state seal paints a fantastic picture of the state’s past and how it became the popular place it is today. In 1847 Iowa’s first Legislature took place, and the creation of the official state seal was one of the first acts to follow after this.
Great Seal of The State of Iowa
The official Iowa state seal displays a citizen soldier standing in a wheat field, surrounded by farming and other agricultural and industrial tools. You can see the Mississippi River situated in the background as an eagle soars above.
The eagle in the sky is holding a scroll in its beak that bears the famous state motto, “Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain”. Most states will have their seals showcase a relevant story, that is indicative of the state and its history, and the Hawkeye State is certainly no different.
The official Iowa state seal is one of many state symbols that Iowa has adopted over time. These state symbols pay homage to the state’s history as well as present-day successes – you can learn all the Iowa state symbols by checking out our page dedicated to this.
The U.S. State Seal
The official seal of the United States is different than the Iowa state seal and it was finally approved by the Continental Congress, after a committee was first created to design the seal on July 4, 1776. Nearly six years and four designs later, the U.S. seal uses an eagle that holds a scroll in its beak with the E Pluribus Unum motto; in one claw is an olive branch, a symbol of peace, and the other claw holds thirteen arrows, a symbol of war. The seal is used on many official documents.
