State Symbols

Adopted in 1902, the Great Seal of Louisiana was created at the request of Gov. W.W. Heard in an attempt to have one seal used consistently throughout Louisiana government. The state flag was adopted by the Louisiana Legislature in 1912 and features a pelican feeding her young on a blue background. The Louisiana state bird is the Eastern Brown Pelican. Found from South Carolina all the way to Brazil, it is famous for its large bill. Because of the large number of Magnolia trees found in Louisiana, the Louisiana Legislature decided in 1900 to make its white blossom the Louisiana state flower. Also known as "sac-a-lait," the white perch is Louisiana's state freshwater fish. With small eyes and thick black fur, the state mammal, the black bear, can be found in swamps, coastal marches and sugarcane fields near the Atchafalaya Basin. Louisiana did not have a state tree until 1963. Of the many varieties of trees found in our state, the Louisiana Legislature chose the bald cypress to be our s...