Seal of Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Seal of the State of Oregon |
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| Armiger | State of Oregon |
| Adopted | February 14, 1859 |
| Motto | "The Union" established in 1957 "She Flies With Her Own Wings" established in 1987 |
The Seal of the State of Oregon is the official symbol of the U.S. state of Oregon. It was created by Harvey Gordon in 1857. This was two years before Oregon officially became a state. Before this seal, Oregon used other seals. These included the Salmon Seal and the Seal of the Oregon Territory. The state's constitution says that Oregon must have an official seal.
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History of Oregon's State Seals
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Oregon's first seal was used by the Provisional Government. This government ruled Oregon from 1843 to 1849. This first seal was called the Salmon Seal. It was round and showed three bundles of grain and one salmon. The salmon was at the bottom. The word "Oregon" was at the top.
The salmon on the seal stood for the fishing industry. The grain showed the importance of farming. This seal was used until the Oregon Territory was formed in 1849.
The Oregon Territorial Seal
When Governor Joseph Lane arrived in 1849, the territorial government took over. That year, they chose a new seal. This seal had a motto and many different pictures. In the middle was a sailing ship. This ship showed the importance of trade. Above the ship was a beaver. The beaver stood for the fur trade, which was a big part of Oregon's early history.
On the left side of the ship was a Native American person. On the right side was an eagle. Above the beaver, a banner held the Latin motto, Alis Volat Propriis. This means "She flies with her own wings." Around the edge of the seal were five stars at the bottom. The words "Seal of the Territory of Oregon" were along the top and sides.
Creating the Current State Seal
In 1857, leaders met at the Oregon Constitutional Convention in Salem. They wrote a constitution to prepare Oregon to become a state. They also decided on a new seal. This new seal would be used once Oregon became a state.
A group of people, including Benjamin F. Burch, LaFayette Grover, and James K. Kelly, were chosen to design the new seal. They used an idea from Harvey Gordon. They also added an elk to the design. Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859. After this, the number of stars on the seal was changed to 33. This was done by the Oregon Legislative Assembly.
Design of the Oregon State Seal
The Oregon state constitution says that Oregon must have a state seal. The exact design of the seal is described in Oregon's laws, called the Oregon Revised Statutes.
What the Seal Looks Like
According to the law, the seal has an outer ring. This ring has the words "State of Oregon" and "1859" on it. Inside this ring is a circle with an American eagle sitting on top of a shield.
The shield shows several important things:
- Mountains and an elk. The elk represents the many wild animals found in Oregon.
- A covered wagon. This reminds us of the pioneers who traveled to Oregon.
- The Pacific Ocean. In the ocean, a British warship is leaving. An American steamboat is arriving. This shows the end of British rule in the Oregon Country.
- The bottom part of the shield shows a bundle of grain, a plow, and a pickaxe. These symbols represent farming and mining.
A banner across the shield says "The Union". Around the shield are 33 stars. These stars show that Oregon was the 33rd state to join the United States in 1859.
The Oregon state seal is also shown on the front side of the state flag of Oregon.
See also
In Spanish: Sello del estado de Oregón para niños
