Symbol | Official Item

Montana designated the ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) as the official state tree in 1949. All State Trees

Montana schoolchildren selected the ponderosa pine over the Douglas fir, American larch, and cottonwood as Montana’s state tree in 1908, but it was not made official until 1949.

The ponderosa pine is known by many names; western yellow pine, bull pine, black Jack pine, western red pine, Sierra brownbark pine, heavy pine, and western pitch pine.

The motto "Oro y Plata" (Spanish for "gold and silver") was selected by a Montana Territory legislative committee tasked with presenting a design for the territory's official seal. Montana's motto appears on the current state seal and the state flag. All State Mottos

In 1985 Montana legislation authorized the governor of Montana to designate a medal of valor in recognition of heroic actions taken by courageous Montanans and visitors to the state that have displayed extraordinary courage in a situation that threatened the lives of another person or people. All State Awards & Recognition

The western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) was designated the official state bird of Montana in 1931. A familiar songbird of open country in the western two-thirds of North America - the western meadowlark was chosen overwhelmingly by Montana's school children to represent the state (Wyoming, North Dakota, Oregon, and Kansas also adopted the western meadowlark as their state bird). All State Birds

Montana designated English as the official language for state and local government in 1995. Official state languages have been designated in several states (including Native American languages and American sign language), but the United States does not recognize an official national language. All State Languages

Montana designated bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva) as the official state flower in 1895. All State Flowers

Bitterroot can be found during spring and summer, growing in the sagebrush plains and the foothills of the mountains in western and south central Montana.

Montana designated the lovely mourning cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa) as the official state butterfly in 2001. All State Insects

Mourning Cloak Butterfly Facts

Often the first butterflies to emerge in the spring (frequently before the winter snow has melted), mourning cloaks rest on tree trunks and turn their dark wings toward the sun to absorb heat for flight.

The striped bass (Morone saxatilis) was adopted as the state fish of Rhode Island in 2000 (striped bass is also a state symbol of New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire). All State Fish

Also called bass, linesiders, stripers, and rockfish, striped bass are a prized recreational game fish. Striped bass have a life expectancy of at least 30 years and can grow to over 4 feet. It takes 5 to 8 years for a female to reach sexual maturity, and females tend to grow much larger than the males.

Although the red maple was voted as the state tree by Rhode Island's school children in the 1890's, it was not officially recognized as the state tree until 1964. All State Trees

The red maple tree (acer rubrum) provides spectacular fall foliage - the leaves turn gold, purple, and scarlet (adding to the beauty of Rhode Island’s forests).

"The State of Rhode Island" tartan was created by the St. Andrews Society of Rhode Island Inc. and officially recognized as the state tartan in 2000. Registered with the Scottish Tartans World Register as: "Rhode Island, The State of Rhode Island." All State Tartans