List of Michigan state symbols

The following is a list of symbols of the U.S. state of Michigan. Bills to designate state symbols in Michigan are referred to the Government Operations Committee in either chamber.[1]

Location of the state of Michigan in the United States

State symbols

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Type Symbol Adopted Image Note
Bird American robin
Turdus migratorius
1931   [1]
Coat of Arms Coat of Arms of the State of Michigan 1835[2]  
Fish Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
1988   In 1965, the trout was named the official state fish; this was specified as the brook trout in 1988.[1]
Flag Flag of the State of Michigan 1911  
Flower Apple Blossom[note 1]
Malus sp.
1897[3]   A garland of 44 flowers representing the 44 states was made for the World's Columbian Exhibition of 1893 with the Apple Blossom representing Michigan. This inspired Michigan's Legislature to make it official in 1897.[1]
Fossil Mastodon
Mammut americanum
2002[1]  
Game Mammal White-Tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
1997[1]  
Gem Isle Royale greenstone
Chlorastrolite
1972[1]  
Motto Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice
(Latin for "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you") [4]
1835
Native Grain Manoomin
Zizania palustris and Zizania aquatica
2023[5][6]  
Reptile Painted turtle
Chrysemys picta
1995[1]  
Seal Great Seal of the State of Michigan 1835  
Soil Kalkaska soil series December 1990[1]
Song "My Michigan" 1937 [1] The resolution passed by the Michigan House of Representatives specified "My Michigan" as "the official state song," but this was changed upon introduction in the state senate to "an official song." Because the state failed to purchase the copyright from the song's authors, the song is rarely performed today.
Stone Petoskey Stone
Hexagonaria pericarnata
1965  [1]
Tree Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
1955[7][8]  
Wildflower Dwarf Lake Iris
Iris lacustris
1998  [1]

Other symbols

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  • United States quarter dollar - Michigan 2004 

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The legislation mentions sweet crabapple (Malus coronaria) as an example.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Gibbons, Lauren (April 4, 2019). "The surprising stories behind Michigan's state symbols". MLive.com. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  2. ^ "SOS - Coat of Arms". www.michigan.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-12-24.
  3. ^ "Michigan's State Symbols".
  4. ^ "Michigan's State Facts". Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  5. ^ "State Facts and Symbols". Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  6. ^ McWhirter, Sheri (2023-12-01). "Do you know what manoomin is? Michigan's state native grain". mlive. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  7. ^ State Tree, Act 7 of 1955, Michigan Legislature, 2002, retrieved November 10, 2019
  8. ^ 2.31 State tree, Michigan Legislature, 2002, retrieved November 10, 2019
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