NEBRASKA STATE SYMBOLS

State Seal Adopted June 15, 1867

The first constitution of Nebraska provided in Article III, Section 8: "There shall be a seal of the state, which shall be kept by the Governor and used by him officially, and shall be call the Great Seal of the State of Nebraska . The present constitution states: "There shall be a seal of the state, which shall be kept by the Secretary of State and used by him officially as directed by law."

To provide for the original seal, Isaac Wiles of Cass County introduced a bill in the House of Representatives on May 31, 1967, to obtain a seal for Nebraska. It was signed by then-governor David Butler on June 15, 1867.

The seal's design is: on the right, a steamboat ascending the Missouri River.  The Rocky Mountains are on the left.  In the background, a train of cars is heading towards the Rockies. The mechanic arts are represented by a smith with hammer and anvil.  Agriculture is represented by a settler's cabin and sheaves of wheat.  At the top is the state motto, "Equality Before the Law."

State Flag Adopted March 28, 1925

In 1925, Nebraska Rep. J. Lloyd McMaster of Lancaster County introduced House Roll 62, which designated an official flag or banner for the state of Nebraska. After the bill was signed by the governor on March 28, 1925, Nebraska had a state flag. It consists of the state seal on a field of national blue.

The bill also states that no part of the state flag is to be used in a business advertisement or trademark. Insulting the flag is forbidden, and penalties for violation of the bill's provisions are named. As passed, the bill appropriated $100 to the secretary of state to reproduce and publish the banner. After this, representation of the flag could be used and sold by individuals, partnerships, voluntary associations and corporations. State law requires that the flag be displayed on or near the state Capitol, the governor's mansion, all courthouses, city or village halls, schoolhouses and other public administration buildings under or to the left of the United States' flag.

The state flag was first displayed at a 1926 New Year's Day reception attended by more than 4,000 people at the new state Capitol. The original flag is displayed in the secretary of state's office in the Capital.

State Bird: Western Meadowlark, Adopted March 22, 1929

The western meadowlark ( Sturnella neglecta ) was designated as the state bird by legislative action in 1929. The western meadowlark is abundant throughout the state and is noted for its joyous song. The birds are eight to 11 inches long and are brown and streaked above, with bright yellow underparts interrupted by a bold crescent of black across the upper breast, and white outer tail feathers. The birds nest on the ground in grassy fields or meadows and feed largely on insects.

State Flower: Goldenrod, Adopted April 4, 1895

The goldenrod ( Soldiago gigantea ) was declared the state flower by legislative action in 1895. Numerous species of goldenrod grow throughout the state. The goldenrod is an erect, coarse-looking perennial herb that is usually about two or three feet tall. The small flower heads, which are almost always yellow but sometimes have cream-colored or white rays, are grouped into either elongated or flattish clusters. The flowers appear from July through October. The resolution was signed into law by then-governor Silas A. Holcomb on April 4, 1985.

State Grass: Little Bluestem, Adopted May 5, 1969

Little bluestem ( Schizachyrium scoparium ) was designated the official state grass by legislative action in 1969. Little bluestem, a vigorous native prairie grass, grows throughout the Great Plains and beyond. In central and western Nebraska, it grows in bunches and is sometimes called "bunch grass." In some areas, it also is known as "beard grass."

State Tree: American Elm Cottonwood, Adopted February 1937
Replaced in 1972 with the Cotton Wood

The American elm ( Ulmus Americana L. ) was named Nebraska's first state tree in 1937, but the 1972 Legislature named the cottonwood ( Populus deltoides ) as the state tree. The cottonwood often is associated with pioneer Nebraska. Several famous early landmarks were cottonwood trees, and their shoots often were collected by settlers who planted them on their claims. Today, the cottonwood grows throughout the state.

State River: Platte River, Adopted February 28, 1998

On February 26, 1998, Governor Ben Nelson declared the Platte River to be the official state river. The Platte, formed by the junction of the North Platte and South Platte rivers near the city of North Platte, flows east through central Nebraska into the Missouri River. The stream is 310 miles (500 kilometers) long.

The Platte is too shallow for navigation, but it is an important source of water for farm irrigation, municipal and industrial uses, recreation and hydroelectric power production. The river also provides habitat for sandhill cranes, other migratory birds, fish and other wildlife.

The Platte River Valley has been an important east-west human transportation corridor throughout history. The Oregon, Mormon and California trails, the Pony Express route, the Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad, the first transcontinental paved highway (U.S. Highway 30) and Interstate 80 all have followed the Platte.

State Mammal: Whitetail Deer, Adopted February 26, 1981

The 1981 Legislature designated the white-tail deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) as the state mammal. The whitetail deer is a herbivorous hoofed mammal found in farmlands, brushy areas and woods. If alarmed, this deer raises its tail, exhibiting a conspicuous flash of white that can communicate danger to other deer or help a fawn to follow its mother in flight. The feeding habits of white-tailed deer are flexible: they graze on green plants; eat acorns, nuts and corn in the fall; and browse on woody vegetation in winter. Whitetail deer hunting is a popular recreational activity in Nebraska.

State Insect: Honeybee, Adopted 1975

The honeybee ( Apis mellifica ) was named the official Nebraska state insect by legislative action in 1975. Honey production is a $3.1 million industry in Nebraska. In 1997, according to the Nebraska Agricultural Statistics Service, there were about 61,000 colonies of honeybees in the state producing more than 4 million pounds of honey.

State Fish: Channel Catfish, Adopted September 13, 1997

On September 13, 1997, Governor Ben Nelson declared the channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ) to be the official state fish. The channel catfish is a popular sport fish that is often used for food. It has distinctive barbels or "whiskers" that are covered with taste buds. Its diet consists of aquatic insects, crayfish, fish, frogs and plant material. Channel catfish spawn during summer in cavities created by tree roots or rocks and often defend their nests.

State Fossil: Mammoth Adopted, March 1, 1967

The mammoth was named Nebraska's state fossil by legislative action on Nebraska's 100 th birthday, March 1, 1967. Various species of the mammoth crossed the Bering Strait land bridge and spread throughout most of North America. Mammoths were elephants, but some were larger than the modern elephant. Early prehistoric people hunted the mammoth and found the animal's ivory tusks useful in making tools and realistic etchings. Mammoth remains have been found in most Nebraska counties. One mammoth found in Lincoln County, A rchidiskodon imperator maibeni , was one of the world's largest elephant fossils. It is displayed in the University of Nebraska State Museum in Lincoln.

State Gem: Blue Agate, Adopted March 1, 1967

Blue chalcedony, commonly called the blue agate, was named Nebraska's state gemstone by legislative action in 1967. A pale stone, blue chalcedony, sometimes a dark internal form with bands of blue and white and often has a colorless streak. Blue agates often are used to make jewelry. The blue agate can be found in northwestern Nebraska.