Shortly after 1776, states like Oregon began to adopt their own official state seals, mottos, nicknames, and much more, which are all used to symbolize and represent the uniqueness of each U.S. state.
What is the Oregon state seal? The Oregon state seal displays a shield, which is supported by 33 different stars. The stars represent Oregon being the 33rd official state to join the Union all the way back in 1859.
Additionally, the state seal of Oregon is divided by a ribbon with the inscription “The Union”, which was subsequently adopted as the official state motto in 1957 and then replaced in 1987 with “She Flies With Her Own Wings”.
The State Seal of Oregon
The state seal of Oregon depicts an interesting story of the state’s past. Above the ribbon you can see the mountains and forests that cover the state, an Elk with branching antlers, a wagon that has been covered up, the Pacific Ocean with a sun setting in the background, and a departing British ship. The British ship leaving the state symbolizes the departure of Britian’s influence within the region of Oregon, and the arriving American ship shows the rise of American power within the state.
Below the ribbon you will see a sheaf of wheat, plow, and a pickaxe. These are all symbols of Oregon’s agricultural and mining past and present resources. The crest of the seal is the American bald eagle, and around the perimeter of the seal you can see the legend “State of Oregon 1859”, which was the year Oregon became a state.
State seals are a fantastic way of taking a glance into the history of each state, and what were perhaps the most significant economic contributers several hundred years ago. This fact about the Beaver State is certainly no different!
