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Pennsylvania - State Symbols

State Animal <> The Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus virginanus)

State Bird <> Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa Umbellus)

State Dog <> The Great Dane (Canis familiaris)

State Fish <> Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

State Insect <> Firefly (Photinus sp.order.Coleoptera)

State Beverage <> Milk is the official state beverage

State Flower <> Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

State Plant <> Penngift Crownvetch (Coronilla varia l., Penngift)

State Fossil <> The Trilobite (Phacops Rana)

State Tree <> Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

State Ship <> The restored United States Brig Niagara is the Flagship of Pennsylvania

State Song
The official state song of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was adopted by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Robert P. Casey on November 29, 1990. This song, "Pennsylvania," was written and composed by Eddie Khoury and Ronnie Bonner and is the official song for all public purposes.

State Flag
Pennsylvania's State Flag is more of a square than a rectangle. It is composed of a blue field on which the State Coat of Arms is embroidered. Draft horses are on either side of the coat of arms and the American eagle rests on the top. The scroll at the bottom reads Virtue, Liberty and Independence.

Pennsylvania Seal
The State seal displays a shield with a sailing ship, a plough, and three sheaves of wheat. The combination of symbols on the shield could represent seals from early Pennsylvania counties. The ship under sail, which was on Philadelphia County's seal, symbolizes the commercial network across the state and around the world. The plough, which was on Chester County's seal, symbolizes the rich resources of the Commonwealth. The wheat symbolizes the harvest of not only agriculture and minerals but also of creative minds. The seal of Sussex county, Delaware had three sheaves of wheat. This was originally a part of the Pennsylvania province. The reverse of this first seal shows a woman who represents liberty. Her left hand holds a wand topped by a liberty cap, a French symbol of liberty. In her right hand is a drawn sword. She is trampling upon Tyranny, represented by a lion. The entire design is encircled by the legend "Both Can't Survive." The Indian cornstalk of plenty and an olive branch of peace are on either side of the shield. The crest of the shield is a Bald eagle with outstretched wings symbolizing sovereignty with hope and purity.

Coat of Arms
Heraldic in design, it consisted of: a shield, which displayed the emblem of the State Seal, the ship, plough, and sheaves of wheat; an eagle for the crest; two black horses as supporters; and the motto "Virtue, Liberty and Independence." An olive branch and a cornstalk were crossed below the shield. Behind each horse was a stalk of corn, but these were omitted after 1805.

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