Pennsylvania has many official state symbols. We have a state bird, state flower, and we even have a state fossil! Learn all about the state symbols here.
The
Keystone State |
Fish |
The Keystone State
A
"keystone" is a central, wedge-shaped stone which holds all the other stones of
a structure in place to form an arch. In early America, Pennsylvania played a
vital geographic and strategic role in holding together the states of the newly
formed Union.
The Commonwealth
Pennsylvania
is officially a Commonwealth, a word which comes from Old English and means the
"common weal" or well-being of the public. In Pennsylvania, all legal processes
are carried out in the name of the Commonwealth, although the word does not
appear on the State Seal.
Coat of Arms
Pennsylvania’s
Coat of Arms is probably the state’s best known symbol. Based on a 1778 design
by Caleb Lownes of Philadelphia, it features a shield crested by an American
Bald Eagle, flanked by horses and adorned with symbols of Pennsylvania's
strengths -- a ship carrying state commerce to all parts of the world; a
clay-red plough, signifying our rich natural resources; and three golden sheaves
of wheat, suggesting fertile fields and Pennsylvania's wealth of human thought
and action. An olive branch and cornstalk cross limbs beneath -- a message of
peace and prosperity. The state motto is festooned below.
Flag
In
1799, the General Assembly authorized the official Pennsylvania State Flag, a
banner fringed in gold with the Coat of Arms embroidered on a field of blue.
During the Civil War, some Pennsylvania regiments carried battle flags modeled
after the American flag, but with our Coat of Arms in place of the block of
stars in the corner. This kind of creative license was discouraged in 1907 when
the General Assembly acted to standardize the State Flag.
Seal
Authorized by the General Assembly in 1791, the Seal of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania is a symbol of authenticity which verifies that proclamations,
commissions and other papers of state are legal and official. The face of the
Seal displays symbols identical to the Coat of Arms, without the supporting
horses, and is used most frequently as an imprint. The reverse side, or
counterseal, pictures Liberty dominating Tyranny in the form of a lion, along
with the warning "Both Can't Survive."
Bird -
Ruffed Grouse
Settlers relied on this plump, red-brown bird with the feathery legs as part of
their food supply. Sometimes called a partridge, the Ruffed Grouse is still a
familiar sight in Pennsylvania's forests. Designated June 22,1931
Tree –
Hemlock
The Hemlock was a sturdy ally to the state's first settlers. Many a pioneer
family felt better protected from the elements and their enemies inside log
cabins made from the patriarch of Pennsylvania's forests. Designated June 23,
1931
Flower -
Mountain Laurel
In
mid-June, every sunny mountainside in Pennsylvania is a still-life in pink
pastels -- a sight which delighted members of the Pennsylvania House and Senate
as well as the wife of Pennsylvania governor Gifford Pinchot. Together, they
prevailed over Pinchot's preference for the azalea to name the Mountain Laurel
as the official state flower. Designated May 5,1933
Animal -
The Whitetail Deer
Indians and settlers depended on the Whitetail Deer to feed, clothe and shelter
them year round. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the nation's
first game laws in 1721 to protect these valuable animals, some of whom grew to
350 pounds. Whitetail Deer continue to flourish today in Pennsylvania's forests.
Designated October 2, 1959
Dog -
Great Dane
The next time you visit the Governor's Reception Room in Harrisburg, look for a
portrait of William Penn with his Great Dane. Now a popular pet, the Great Dane
was a hunting and working breed in frontier Pennsylvania. The choice of State
Dog is also unique for the vote that approved it. When the Speaker of the House
called for a voice vote to designate the Great Dane, yips, growls and barks
assaulted his ears from every part of the chamber! With a rap of his gavel, the
Speaker confirmed that the "arfs have it" and the "Barking Dog Vote" entered the
annals of legislative history. Designated August 15, 1965
Fish -
Brook Trout
There is nothing more beautiful than the flash of a Brook Trout beneath a
bubbling current -- especially for Pennsylvania's 1.1 million anglers. Over
4,000 miles of cold water streams form the natural habitat of this fish, the
only trout native to Pennsylvania. Designated March 9,1970
Insect –
Firefly
Pennsylvanians know fireflies as "lightning bugs" that brighten a still summer
night. That may be why some Pennsylvania citizens heard the word "firefly" and
confused it with "blackfly," a pest that plagued the Commonwealth in 1988. To
clarify the identity of the State Insect, the General Assembly rewrote the law
later that year singling out the firefly by its Latin name -"Poturis
Pensylvanica De Geer." Designated April 10,1974
Beverage –
Milk
This designation is a fitting tribute to one of the Commonwealth's leading farm
products. It also salutes the state's gentle dairy cows who each produce an
average of a generous 22 quarts of milk a day. Designated April 29,1982
Beautification Plant –
Crownvetch
Since the late 1950s, a profusion of white and lavender blossoms has trimmed the
edges of Pennsylvania highways. Scientists at Penn State University developed
the hearty Crownvetch to use as a groundcover for erosion control. The versatile
plant is also of value to agribusiness as a feed for livestock. Designated
June 17, 1982
Steam Locomotive -
K4s Steam
The boxy, black cylinder with the short stack on top was the main passenger
locomotive of the Pennsylvania railroad for 30 years. At one time, 425 of these
powerful coal-burners steamed across the state -- every one built in
Pennsylvania. The State Steam Locomotive is on display in railroad museums in
Altoona and Strasburg. Designated December 18, 1987
Electric Locomotive -
GCI4849 Electric
The GGI 4859 Electric Locomotive is one of 138 sleek and shiny bullets that
smoked the rails at speeds above 100 miles per hour. Built in 1937, the GGI 4859
pulled troop trains to military destinations during World War II and continued
powering coal and passenger cars until retirement in 1979. The State Electric
Locomotive is displayed in Harrisburg. Designated December 18, 1987
Ship -
United States Brig Niagara
The Niagara, under Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, was decisive in the War of
1812. On September 10, 1813, it defeated a British squadron in the Battle of
Lake Erie. The Niagara is displayed in Erie. Designated May 26, 1988
Fossil -
Phacops Rana
A
water animal measuring just one to four inches, the Phacops Rana lived and left
its mark Pennsylvania more than 250 million years ago. A science class of
elementary school students brought this tiny invertebrate to the attention of
the House of Representatives. Designated December 5, 1988
Song -
"Pennsylvania"
The official state song of the Commonwealth was written and composed by Eddie
Khoury and Ronnie Bonner and is the official song for all public purposes.
Designated November 29, 1990
Verse 1
Pennsylvania,
Pennsylvania, Mighty is your name,
Steeped in glory and tradition, Object of acclaim.
Where brave men fought the foe of freedom, Tyranny decried,
'Til the bell of independence, filled the countryside.
Chorus
Pennsylvania,
Pennsylvania,
May your future be filled with honor everlasting, as your history.
Verse 2
Pennsylvania,
Pennsylvania, Blessed by God's own hand,
Birthplace of a mighty nation, Keystone of the land.
Where first our country's flag unfolded, Freedom to proclaim,
May the voices of tomorrow, glorify your name.
Repeat Chorus