OFFICIAL STATE OF WASHINGTON SYMBOLS
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State Seal
In 1889, jeweler Charles Talcott designed our first state seal using an ink
bottle, silver dollar and a postage stamp. Talcott's brother, L. Grant Talcott,
lettered the words, "The Seal of the State of Washington, 1889," and
another brother, G.N. Talcott, cut the printing die.
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State Flower
Coast Rhododendron
In 1892, before they had the right to vote, Washington
women selected the coast rhododendron as the state
flower. They wanted an official flower to enter in a floral
exhibit at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. Six flowers
were considered, but the final decision was narrowed to
clover and the "rhodie," and voting booths were set up for ladies
throughout the state. When the ballots were counted, the
rhododendron had been chosen as the Washington state flower.
In 1959, the Legislature designated the native species,
Rhododendron macrophyllum, as the official flower of the state of
Washington.
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The State Flag
The state flag and the state seal are similar.
Passed in 1923, Washington law describes
the flag as having dark green bunting with a
state seal in the center. In the late 1890s, a
blue and gold military state flag with
George Washington's profile on it flew over many
cities and towns throughout the state. But when it came to a final
decision, the current flag was adopted by the Legislature. According
to law, the flag of the United States and the flag of the state shall be
prominently installed, displayed and maintained in schools, court
rooms and state buildings.
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State Tree
Western Hemlock
In 1946, an Oregon newspaper teased Washington for
not having a state tree. The Portland Oregonian picked
out the western hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla for us, but
Washington newspapers decided to choose their own
and selected the popular western red cedar. State
Representative George Adams of Mason County pleaded with
the Legislature to adopt the western hemlock. The hemlock, he
said, would become "the backbone of this state's forest industry."
Adams' bill passed the Legislature and was signed into law in
1947.
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State Bird
Willow Goldfinch
The goldfinch is a delicate little bird with a yellow body
and black wings, and although it eventually became the official state
bird, many other birds were considered for the title. In 1928, legislators
let school children select the state bird and the meadowlark won
hands-down. It was a nice choice but seven other states already had
chosen the same bird. Another vote was taken in 1931 by the
Washington Federation of Women's Clubs. Many birds were nominated,
but the goldfinch won handily over the tanager, song sparrow, junco and
pileated woodpecker. Now there were two state birds and the
Legislature decided to leave the final choice to school children. In 1951,
children voted for the goldfinch and the Legislature made it unanimous.
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State Song
"Washington, My Home"
The state song, "Washington, My Home," was
written by Helen Davis, arranged by Stuart Churchill,
and became the official state song in 1959. But,
like the goldfinch, it had some stiff
competition from another popular song. Back in
1909, "Washington Beloved" was adopted, sort
of, by the Legislature. Professor Edmond Meany,
the historian, wrote the words and Reginald de Koven, who also
wrote "O Promise Me" and other operettas, wrote the music. But
the official designation for the song was never formally introduced
as a bill and so was not part of the state's code of law. When a
state senator from South Bend introduced a bill in 1959 to make
"Washington, My Home" our state song, it was approved
unanimously.
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State Fish
Steelhead Trout
The steelhead trout is an anadromous fish, meaning
it returns to fresh water rivers to spawn. The scales of the steelhead
shine flecks of silver with a gray spotted back from head to tail and
an intensely white belly; the two colors separated by a hint of
opalescent pink. Steelhead trout is one of the most popular fish for
recreational fishing, a major industry in Washington State. The
steelhead trout (Salmo gairdnerii) was adopted by the Legislature as
a state symbol in 1969.
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State Gem
Petrified Wood
The geological history of our state has encompassed
many great changes, one of them being the many
lava flows from volcanic fissures. Centuries ago, the
interior of Washington was swampy and mild with many trees
such as cypress, oak, elm and gingko growing in wet areas.
Layers of logs were preserved with each new lava flow, and as
the layers grew deeper, many of the logs became waterlogged
and lay protected in deep water. Over time, water continued to
seep through the lava and permeate the wood with silica.
Eventually, the wood fiber was completely replaced by silica, thus
petrifying many logs. The petrified wood is perfect in form and
detail to the original wood. In 1975, petrified wood was adopted
as the state gem. The best place to see petrified wood is the
Gingko Petrified Forest State Park in Vantage.
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State Dance
Square Dance
On April 17, 1979, the square dance became the official
Washington state dance. When the pioneers came west,
they brought with them a dance called the quadrille, which
means square in French. The pioneers liked the simpler
term and so the square dance was born. The dance is known for its
series of figures and footwork. Dancers are directed by a caller. It is
easy to learn, a good form of exercise, and fun.
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State Folk Song
"Roll On, Columbia, Roll On"
In the early 1940s, the federal Bonneville Power Administration
produced a movie encouraging rural residents in the Pacific
Northwest to electrify their homes and farms with the power being
generated by the newly-built Bonneville and Grand Coulee Dams
on the Columbia River. As part of the project, BPA hired folksinger
Woody Guthrie at $270 for 30 days to write songs for
the movie. Guthrie wrote 26 songs, the most popular
of which was "Roll On, Columbia, Roll On," an ode to
the harnessing of Washington's mightiest river. It was
approved as the official Washington state folk song by the
Legislature in 1987.
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State Fruit
Apple
Washington is the nation's top apple-producing state, so
it is appropriate that the apple was named a state symbol
in 1989, the centennial year. A favorite fruit around the world,
the apple comes in many different colors, sizes and varities. From the
beautiful blossoms of spring, to the heavily laden branches in autumn,
the apple trees of eastern Washington represent one of the largest
industries in the state. The Washington apple is certainly one of the
most recognized symbols of the state worldwide.
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State Grass
Bluebunch Wheatgrass
Although many state symbols are readily identifiable
with the western part of the state, bluebunch
wheatgrass is a state symbol that is unique to eastern
Washington. Bluebunch wheatgrass was a blessing to
Washington's pioneer farmers and continues to play a
major role in our agriculture industry today. It was adopted by the
1989 Legislature as the official state grass. Its botanical name is
Agropyron spicatum.
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State Tartan
A tartan is a design for the weaving of cloth consisting of
perpendicular bands of contrasting colors on a solid background.
The Washington State tartan was designed in 1988 by Vancouver,
USA Country Dancers Margaret McLeod van Nus and Frank
Cannonita to
commemorate the Washington State Centennial
celebration. It is identified by the background color
green, which represents the rich forests of
Washington, the "Evergreen State." The perpendicular
bands of contrasting colors represent the following features: blue
for the lakes, rivers and ocean; white for the snow-capped
mountains; red for the apple and cherry crops; yellow for the
wheat and grain crops; and black for the eruption of Mount St.
Helens. The bill, designating a state tartan, was signed into law
in 1991. The Council of the Scottish Tartans Society also affixed
its seal to the official Certificate of Accreditation in 1991.
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State Insect
Green Darner Dragonfly
In 1997, the common green darner dragonfly, Anax junius
Drury, became Washington's official state insect after a
group of students at Crestwood Elementary School in Kent
brought the idea to the Legislature. Students from over 100 school
districts statewide participated in the selection of the common green
darner dragonfly. Also known as the "mosquito hawk," this insect can
be found throughout Washington and is a beneficial contributor to the
ecosystem because it consumes a large number of insect pests. It is
easily recognizable by its bright green head and thorax, it has a four to
six-inch wingspan and can fly 25 to 35 miles per hour. There are over
400 different species of dragonflies. Dragonflies existed prior to the
dinosaur age and some had up to a three-foot wing span. "Darner" is
one family of dragonflies and the common green (Anax junius) was
first sighted and recorded by Drury in 1773.
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State Fossil
Columbian Mammoth
Following a four-year effort by students from Windsor Elementary
school near Cheney to have this behemoth
designated
as our state fossil, the Legislature recognized in 1998
that the large, hairy prehistoric elephants of the extinct
genus Mammuthus roamed the North American
continent, including the Pacific Northwest, during the
Pleistocene epoch (ice ages). Mammoth is the
common name given to any member of an extinct genus
Mammuthus of the elephant family. The first North American
mammoths migrated across the Bering Strait from Asia down
through Alaska about two million years ago. Nearly all
mammoths died out about 10,000 years ago. From studies
based on deposits of the Columbian mammoths, M. columbi, it is
clear that grasses featured prominently in their diets. The
maximum life expectancy of the mammoth would have been 60 to
65 years. The males grew to the size of modern adult elephants;
females were about half that size. Several years ago, fossils of
the Columbian mammoth were found on the Olympic Peninsula
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State Marine Mammal
Orca
As a result of two years of research and
persuasion by second graders from the
Crescent Harbor Elementary School in Oak
Harbor, the Legislature designated the orca,
Orcinus orca, as the official marine mammal of the state of
Washington in 2005. Many people visit Washington state to watch
orcas; the orca is a significant symbol for the Native American
culture; there are pods of orcas that migrate annually through Puget
Sound; and the orca is easily recognizable because of its distinct
markings. The designation is intended to promote orca awareness
and to encourage protection of the natural marine habitat.
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