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Copyright 2001. The Lazy 'C' - All rights reserved.
history
The coat of arms of the State of Maine is placed on a blue field of the same shade of blue in the flag of the United States. Adopted by the Legislature of 1909
Nickname: The Pine Tree State.
Capital: Augusta.
Constitution: The 23rd State.
Statehood: March 15th 1820.
Motto: Dirigo - I Lead
History:
Thousands of Abenaki and Etchemin Indians lived in the region before white settlers arrived. English colonists made many permanent settlements in Maine in the 1620's.
Bird:
Chickadee (Parus atricapillus): Adopted by the Legislature of 1927. The Blacked-capped Chickadee is a common sight in the woods and at backyard bird feeders throughout the state. It's brownish-black bill is short, straight and rounded. The Chickadee's glossy head is large with a short neck and dark brown eyes. It's body is thick. The feathers are blended and short. It's tail is long, arched, and rounded, with twelve slender feathers. Feet and claws are greyish-blue. The whole upper part of the head and the hind neck is pure black, as is a large patch on the throat and fore-neck. The Chickadee is approximately 5 inches in length.
Economy:
Agriculture: Seafood, poultry and eggs, potatoes, dairy products, cattle, blueberries, apples.
Industry: Paper, lumber, and wood products, electric equipment, food processing, leather products, textiles, tourism.
Flower:
White pine cone and tassel (Pinus strobus, linnaeus). Adopted by the Legislature of 1895. The White pine is considered to be the largest pine in the United States. Leaves (needles) are soft, flexible and bluish-green to silver green in colour and are regularly arranged in bundles of five. Needles are 2 1/2-5 inches long and are usually shed at the end of the second growing season. Flowers (strobili) occur on the tree. Cones are 4-8 inches in length, usually slightly curved. Cone scales are thin and never have prickles. Cones also have a fragrant gummy resin.
Origin of state's name:
Assumed to be a reference to the state region being a mainland, different from its many surrounding islands.
Seal:
The seal of the State shall be a shield in silver, on it is a pine tree with a moose lying at the foot of it; on the left side of the shield is a farmer resting on a scythe; on the right side, a seaman, resting on an anchor.
In the foreground, representing sea and land, and under the shield, shall be the name of the State in large Roman capitals: MAINE.
The whole shall be surrounded by a crest, the North Star. The motto, in small Roman capitals, shall be in a label resting between the shield and the crest reading: DIRIGO (I lead).
Maine became a state on March 15, 1820 and the Legislature adopted the language governing its design on June 9. The description had been drafted by a short-lived Committee under the direction of first Senate President William Moody; Colonel Isaac G. Reed of Waldoboro is credited with the Seal's description and explanation.
The actual appearance of the Seal has varied over the years, all the variations based on the language above. The first sketch of the Seal was markedly different from the above; the "moose" looked like a deer, the shield was more conventional, the scythe was held with the blade on the ground. Later variations included the scythe being held behind the husbandman's head, and in one case, the inexplicable substitution of a sextant for the mariner's anchor. There is little statutory guidance for colouring the Seal other than the description of the blue-background State Flag in Title 1 sec. 206. The present design was fixed by the Legislature in 1919.
Tree:
White pine - Adopted by the Legislature of 1945.
Thousands of Abenaki and Etchemin Indians lived in the region before white settlers arrived. English colonists made many permanent settlements in Maine in the 1620's.
Bird:
Chickadee (Parus atricapillus): Adopted by the Legislature of 1927. The Blacked-capped Chickadee is a common sight in the woods and at backyard bird feeders throughout the state. It's brownish-black bill is short, straight and rounded. The Chickadee's glossy head is large with a short neck and dark brown eyes. It's body is thick. The feathers are blended and short. It's tail is long, arched, and rounded, with twelve slender feathers. Feet and claws are greyish-blue. The whole upper part of the head and the hind neck is pure black, as is a large patch on the throat and fore-neck. The Chickadee is approximately 5 inches in length.
Economy:
Agriculture: Seafood, poultry and eggs, potatoes, dairy products, cattle, blueberries, apples.
Industry: Paper, lumber, and wood products, electric equipment, food processing, leather products, textiles, tourism.
Flower:
White pine cone and tassel (Pinus strobus, linnaeus). Adopted by the Legislature of 1895. The White pine is considered to be the largest pine in the United States. Leaves (needles) are soft, flexible and bluish-green to silver green in colour and are regularly arranged in bundles of five. Needles are 2 1/2-5 inches long and are usually shed at the end of the second growing season. Flowers (strobili) occur on the tree. Cones are 4-8 inches in length, usually slightly curved. Cone scales are thin and never have prickles. Cones also have a fragrant gummy resin.
Origin of state's name:
Assumed to be a reference to the state region being a mainland, different from its many surrounding islands.
Seal:
The seal of the State shall be a shield in silver, on it is a pine tree with a moose lying at the foot of it; on the left side of the shield is a farmer resting on a scythe; on the right side, a seaman, resting on an anchor.
In the foreground, representing sea and land, and under the shield, shall be the name of the State in large Roman capitals: MAINE.
The whole shall be surrounded by a crest, the North Star. The motto, in small Roman capitals, shall be in a label resting between the shield and the crest reading: DIRIGO (I lead).
Maine became a state on March 15, 1820 and the Legislature adopted the language governing its design on June 9. The description had been drafted by a short-lived Committee under the direction of first Senate President William Moody; Colonel Isaac G. Reed of Waldoboro is credited with the Seal's description and explanation.
The actual appearance of the Seal has varied over the years, all the variations based on the language above. The first sketch of the Seal was markedly different from the above; the "moose" looked like a deer, the shield was more conventional, the scythe was held with the blade on the ground. Later variations included the scythe being held behind the husbandman's head, and in one case, the inexplicable substitution of a sextant for the mariner's anchor. There is little statutory guidance for colouring the Seal other than the description of the blue-background State Flag in Title 1 sec. 206. The present design was fixed by the Legislature in 1919.
Tree:
White pine - Adopted by the Legislature of 1945.