Seal of Florida Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Great Seal of the State of Florida

Versions
Historical coat of arms (1876)

Armiger	State of Florida
Adopted	1985
Motto	In God We Trust
Earlier version(s)
Use	Former Floridian state seal, used until 1985.

The Great Seal of the State of Florida is a special symbol. It stands for the government of Florida. This seal is used for many official things. For example, it helps make laws and important papers official. You can often see it on state buildings and vehicles. It also appears on the state flag of Florida. Even the University of Florida is allowed to use this seal.

The seal shows a shoreline scene. A Seminole woman is scattering flowers. Some people believe she is a historical hero named Milly Francis. But there are no old papers to prove this. Two Sabal palm trees are growing. These are Florida's state tree. In the background, a steamboat sails. The sun is rising, sending rays of light into the sky. Around the edge of the seal, it says "Great Seal of the State of Florida". It also includes "In God We Trust", which is Florida's state motto.

History of Florida's Great Seal
How the Seal is Used
Other Government Seals in Florida
See also

History of Florida's Great Seal

Florida's first official seal was created in 1868. The state lawmakers decided on its design. They said the seal should be the size of an American silver dollar. It had to show the sun's rays, a cocoa tree, a steamboat, and a Native American woman scattering flowers. These images were to be surrounded by the words "Great Seal of the State of Florida: In God We Trust."

Over the years, the seal has changed a few times. The Native American woman on the seal no longer wears a feathered headdress. This is because female Seminoles did not wear them. A mountain in the background was removed. Florida does not have mountains. The steamboat has also been updated a few times. A sabal palm tree was added instead of the original cocoa tree. This change happened because the Sabal palmetto palm became the official state tree in 1953. The most recent changes to the seal were made in 1985.

How the Seal is Used

The seal on a historical marker (Fernandina)

The Florida Secretary of State is in charge of the Great Seal. This means they keep it safe and control how it is used. The seal can only be used for official purposes. The Florida Department of State must approve its use. However, other state or local agencies in Florida can use the seal for their official work. This is allowed if the head of their agency approves it. Using the seal without permission is against the law in Florida.