15 Michigan State Symbols You Should Definitely Know

The deer was adopted as the state animal after several students favored it in 1997. The mammal is found across the state and is a crucial resource to the Great Lakes State.

The American Robin is popularly known as the “Best-loved of all the birds in the state of Michigan.” It was officially adopted in 1931 after being preferred by the Michigan Audubon Society.

The current flag of Michigan is the state’s third flag adopted in 1911. The first flag depicted the first governor, coat of arms, a soldier & a lady. The second has the US and Michigan coat of arms.

A red ribbon captioned “E Pluribus Unum” for “Out of Many” followed by a shield captioned ‘Tuebor” for “I Will Defend” showing sunrise, peninsula, and a man with a gun. To depict the frontier state and motto.

Michigan led America into the lumber industry and the easter white pines were predominantly used for lumber production. Thus, the tree was officially adopted in 1955.

Also known as the Isle Royale greenstone, the Chlorastrolite is only found in the Keweenaw peninsula and Isle Royale in Michigan. The stone’s color varies from yellow to green to pitch black and was adopted in 1972.

Apple Blossoms have the strongest fragrance among the species. The first blossom in each plant called King Blossom will give a larger fruit. The endangered dwarf lake iris is the state’s wildflower.

Michigan is one of the few states to not have a stone as its official fossil. The stone was named after Pet-O-Sega, an Ottawa chief. The pebble-like fossil is the remains of fossilized coral rugose.

The fish is native to the state of Michigan and was officially adopted in 1988 after being designated in 1965. Lake trout are also native to the state but rainbow and brown trout were introduced later.

The reptile was adopted after several students insisted on having a state reptile. According to legend, the painted turtle carried the Michigan island on its back and before settling in America.

The soil was discovered in 1927 in Michigan and was made the official soil of the state in 1990. The sand is only found in the northern peninsula and is found in abundance in this state.

Though the 1937 resolution adopted the song as the official state song. The state failed to acquire the rights for the same from the author. Thus, My Michigan is hardly played across the state.

Mastodon fossils were found in more than 250 locations across the state. The elephant went extinct 13000 years ago. The name means ‘breast tooth’ in Greek denoting the crown's nipple-like projection.

‘Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice’ is Latin for ‘If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.’ The inscriptions on Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London ‘If you seek monument, look around’ inspired it.

Yost, the head coach felt the origin to link to wolverine pelt trades while some felt it to be imposed on Michiganders by the French for the gluttonous trait. They don’t have a live mascot after the first two animals turned too wild.