The nickname for Louisiana is The Pelican State. The brown pelican is the state bird and appears on Louisiana's state flag, great seal, the official state painting (along with many other symbols and icons of Louisiana), and is one of three Louisiana symbols displayed on the U.S. mint's bicentennial Louisiana quarter.
The state flag of Louisiana displays a white pelican nurturing its young by tearing at its own breast (signified by three drops of blood), with a white banner below containing the state motto in blue letters (Union, Justice, and Confidence); all on a field of blue.
The state seal of Louisiana features a brown pelican tearing at its breast to nurture its young, and the state motto: "Union, Justice, Confidence." All State Seals
Louisiana designated fleur-de-lis as the official state symbol in 2008. The fleur-de-lis is a stylized lily or iris (the official state wildflower of Louisiana is iris) that is used as a decorative design or symbol, especially in French heraldry (the fleur-de-lis has appeared on many European coats of arms and flags over the centuries). All Louisiana Symbols
Louisiana designated cabochon cut oyster shell as the official state gemstone in 2011 (cabochon cut refers to a shaped and polished gemstone, vs. a faceted cut). All State Gems & Gemstones
Cut and polished Louisiana oyster shells (Crassostrea virginica mollusk) are considered to be a gemstone. This oyster species is plentiful off the Louisiana coast. Quote from legislation:
Agate was originally designated the state gemstone of Louisiana in 1976. In 2011 Act 232 of the Louisiana legislature amended this state symbol to henceforth be the state mineral.
The same act specifies a new Louisiana state gemstone: "... the cabochon gemstone, derived from the Crassostrea virginica mollusk predominantly found in the waters of coastal Louisiana."
Louisiana recognized the Natchitoches meat pie as the official state meat pie in 2003. All State Foods
The city of Natchitoches in northern Louisiana (named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe, pronounced NAK-uh-tush) offers a regional delicacy popular since the late 1700's - the Natchitoches meat pie. Activities at the annual Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival include a meat pie cooking contest and meat pie eating contest.
Louisiana designated the pirogue as the official state boat in 2012 to honor a staple of transportation for Louisianians from pre-statehood days to now. The pirogue boat is particularly popular in the vast Cajun culture of south Louisiana.
The magnolia blossom was designated the state flower of Louisiana in 1900. The southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is a medium size hardwood tree that grows in the southest USA (also called evergreen magnolia, bull-bay, big-laurel, little gem or large-flower magnolia). The large, fragrant white flowers and leathery evergreen leaves make the magnolia tree popular around the world as an ornamental.
The Louisiana iris (Iris giganticaerulea) was designated the official state wildflower in 1990 (Louisiana's state flower is the magnolia blossom). All State Flowers
The iris has sword-like foliage and grows to 5 or 6 feet. It has a wider color range than any other iris (blue, purple, yellow, pink, white, and shades of brownish-red).