List of West Virginia state symbols

The following is a list of symbols of the U.S. state of West Virginia.

Insignia

Further information: List of U.S. state, district, and territorial insignia
Type Symbol Year Image
Coat of arms The Coat of Arms of West Virginia 1863[1] The Coat of Arms of West Virginia
Flag The flag of West Virginia consists of the coat of arms, wreathed below in rhododendron and bannered with "State of West Virginia" above, on a white field bound in blue 1929[1] Flag of West Virginia
Motto Montani Semper Liberi
(Mountaineers [are] Always Free) 		1863,[1][2] 1872[3] —
Seal The Great Seal of the State of West Virginia 1863[1][2] The Great Seal of West Virginia

Flora and fauna

Type Symbol Year Image
Animal Black bear 1954,[1] 1973[3] Black bear
Bird Cardinal 1949[1] Cardinal
Butterfly Monarch butterfly 1995[3] Monarch butterfly
Fish Brook trout 1973[1] Brook trout
Flower Rhododendron 1903[1] Rhododendron
Fruit Apple 1972[3] Golden Delicious apple
Golden Delicious apple 1995[3]
Insect Honey bee 2002[3] Honey bee
Reptile Timber rattlesnake 2008[4] Timber rattlesnake
Tree Sugar maple 1949[1][3] Sugar maple

Inanimate

Type Symbol Year Image
Fossil Jefferson's ground sloth (Megalonyx jeffersonii) 2008[4]
Gem Silicified Mississippian Lithostrotionella coral 1990[3] Lithostrotionella
Rock Bituminous coal 2009[5] Coal
Soil Monongahela 1997[3][6]

Cultural

Type Symbol Year Image
Colors Old gold and blue 1963[1]
Official holiday West Virginia Day – June 20 1927[3] —
Official songs "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "The West Virginia Hills," "West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home" and "This Is My West Virginia" 1971, 1963, 2014[7]
Steam Locomotive Cass Scenic Railroad #5 2004[8] Cass Scenic 5
Tartan West Virginia Shawl (adaptation) 2008[9]
State Firearm Harpers Ferry M1819 Hall Rifle 2013[10]
It’s a unique flintlock rifle produced in Harper’s ferry armory
State rifle of West Virginia

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "State Symbols". West Virginia's State Treasurer's Office. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Wrap-up: The Newsletter of the West Virginia Legislature" (PDF). Vol. XVIII, no. 7. West Virginia Legislature. February 28, 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "State Symbols". West Virginia Legislature. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 28". West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  5. ^ Ward, Ken (June 3, 2009). "Coal: West Virginia's official rock". The Charleston Gazette. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  6. ^ "Monongahela -- West Virginia State Soil" (PDF). US Department of Agriculture (FTP). Retrieved July 18, 2012. (To view documents see Help:FTP)
  7. ^ [1] Archived March 8, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Departmental, Statistical & General Information" (PDF). wvlegislature. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  9. ^ "House Concurrent Resolution No. 29 (2008)". West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  10. ^ "Did you know: WV has an official state firearm (2022)". WVNS 59 News. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
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