List of Maine state symbols

This is a list of Maine state symbols in the United States.^[1] The symbols were recognized and signed into law by the Maine Legislature and governor of Maine and are officially listed in the Maine Laws in article 1, chapter 9.^[2]

Map of the United States, highlighting Maine

The oldest symbols, the state flag and the state seal, were adopted in 1820,^[3] and the most recent additions to the list were, the state song of the 21st century, My Sweet Maine in 2021^[4] and the state butterfly, the pink-edged sulphur in 2023.^[5]

State symbols

 

The Maine state tree, Eastern white pine

 

The Maine state bird, the Black-capped chickadee

 

The Maine state crustacean, the American lobster

State symbols table

Symbol	Name	Taxonomy	Adopted	Ref
State animal	Moose	Alces alces	1979	^[6]
State ballad	The Ballad of the 20th Maine^note		2019	^[4]
State berry	Blueberry	Accinium angustifolium	1991	^[7]
State beverage	Moxie		2005	^[8]
State bird	Black-capped chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	1927	^[9]
State butterfly	Pink-edged sulphur	Colias interior	2023	^[5]
State cat	Maine Coon		1985	^[10]
State crustacean	American Lobster	Homarus americanus	2016	^[11]
State dessert	Blueberry pie		2011	^[12]
State fish	Landlocked Atlantic salmon	Salmo salar	1969	^[13]
State flag	Flag of Maine		1901	^[3]
State flower	White Pine Cone and Tassel	Pinus strobus (Linnaeus)	1895	^[14]
State fossil	Pertica quadrifaria	Pertica quadrifaria	1985	^[15]
State gemstone	Tourmaline	Ditrigonal pyramidal	1971	^[16]
State Herb	Wintergreen	Gaultheria procumbens	1999	^[17]
State insect	Honey bee	Apis mellifera	1975	^[18]
State motto	Dirigo (I lead)		1820	^[3]
State Nickname	The Pine Tree State		1860	^[19]
State seal	Seal of Maine		1820	^[3]
State soil	Chesuncook		1999	^[20]
State song	The Maine song^note		1937	^[21]
State song of 21st century	My Sweet Maine^note		2021	^[22]
State treat	Whoopie pie		2011	^[23]
State sweetener	Maine Maple syrup		2015	^[24]
State tree	Eastern White Pine	Pinus strobus	1945	^[25]
State sailing vessel	Bowdoin		1986	^[26]

See also

• Lists of United States state symbols

Notes

a.^ Written by Griffin Sherry of The Ghost of Paul Revere

b.^ Written by Roger Vinton Snow

c.^ Written by Terry Swett

References

1. "State Symbols". maine.gov. Secretary of State of Maine. 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
2. "Title 1, Chapter 9: Seal, Motto, Emblems and Flags". legislature.maine.gov. Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
3. Smith, Whitney (January 26, 2001). "Flag of Maine". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
4. Nee, Liam (June 7, 2019). "Ballad of the 20th Maine' now the official state ballad". Portland, Maine: WCSH. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
5. Grahamstaff, Gillian (May 29, 2023). "Maine now has a state butterfly thanks to 2 inquisitive fifth graders". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
6. "What is the State Animal of Maine?". readnational.com. Read National. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
7. "Maine State Berry". statesymbolsusa.org. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
8. Simon, Scott (February 12, 2022). "Maine's beloved official drink, Moxie, is the latest casualty in supply chain issues". NPR. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
9. Atkins, Clinton (July 1, 2023). "What is the State Bird of Maine? – 4 Facts About Them". thayerbirding.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
10. "Maine Coon Cats". Down East. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
11. "Maine State Crustacean". statesymbolsusa.org. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
12. "State Dessert – Blueberry Pie". maine.gov. Secretary of State of Maine. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
13. "Landlocked Salmon". statesymbolsusa.org. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
14. "Maine State Flower (Floral Emblem)". ereferencedesk.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
15. "Maine State Fossil – Pertica Quadrifaria". fossilera.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
16. "Tourmaline". statesymbolsusa.org. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
17. "Wintergreen/Teaberry/Checkerberry". friendsofrachelcarsonnwr.org. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
18. "Maine Facts". senate.gov. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
19. Kiffel-Alcheh, Jamie. "Maine". Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Kids. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
20. Butler, Nicholas; Fernandez, Ivan; Hodgman, Lindsay; Johanson, Jamin; Turcotte, David. "Chesuncook Maine State Soil" (PDF). soils4teachers.org. Soil Science Society of America. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
21. Mecomber, Rebecca (June 25, 2023). "What Is the State Song of Maine?". unitedstatesnow.org. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
22. "Maine State 21st Century Song". legislature.maine.gov. Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
23. "Who Invented Whoopie Pies – Maine's Official Treat". lobsterAnywhere.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
24. "Maine State Sweetener". legislature.maine.gov. Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
25. "Maine State Tree". netstate.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
26. "Bowdoin". sailtraininginternational.org. Retrieved July 12, 2023.