Oregon

Capital
Salem
(Established In 1854)

This is Oregon's third Capitol Building.
Each of the previous two structures,
was destroyed by fire, one in 1855,
and it's replacement in 1935.
On the same site, Oregon's newest Capitol,
was constructed of white Vermont marble,
and completed in 1937. The gilded bronze statue,
atop the Capitol Building, is 22 feet tall,
and was created by artist Ulric H. Ellerhusen.

Motto
(Alis volat Propriis)
"She Flies With Her Own Wings"
Adopted in 1987, it replaces "The Union", which
was the previous state motto adopted in 1957.

Nickname
Beaver State

Oregon is known as the Beaver State, plus
Oregon State University's athletic team,
is called TheBeavers.

(Q: What do beavers eat on their toast for breakfast?
A: Logjam!)

The Beaver
Author Unknown

The forest creatures pause in awe as the mighty Beaver passes.
They stare from rock and fallen log, from tree top and from grasses.
The bear, the fox, and buffalo, and all their feathered neighbors,
Bend a knee and bow a head,
And somewhere grateful prayers are said,
For every creature hoped to see the Beaver as it passes.

The Beaver's strength is legend, it's noble, wise and good,
And word goes out to every corner of that primal wood.
The coming of the Beaver means an end to hardships here.
The mountain stream will halt its course;
Provide a bounteous water source;
For one thing every creature knows is Beavers dam good!

State Flag
(Adopted In 1925)

The only state flag,
that has a design on both sides.
The flag has a deep blue background,
and golden yellow designs. On the back,
is a beaver, the state animal. The front
picture, includes a heart shaped shield,
with an eagle on top, surrounded by thirty-three stars.
The number of states, in 1859.
The scene on the shield, shows the sun,
setting over the Pacific Ocean, mountains,
forests and a covered wagon. A plow,
wheat and pickax, represent farming and mining.
About the two ships:
The one leaving, is a British ship,
and the one arriving, is a United States ship,
both representing trade. The eagle represents
the United States.
On a banner, are the words The Union,
representing support for the United States.
Finally, the flag is emblazoned with the words,
State of Oregon,above the picture,
and the date of statehood 1859, below.

State Animal
American Beaver

The American Beaver,
was named Oregon's state animal,
by the 1969 Legislature. Prized for its fur,
the beaver was overtrapped by early settlers,
and eliminated from much of its original range.
Through proper management and partial protection,
the beaver has been reestablished in watercourses
throughout the state, and remains an important economic asset.
The beaver has been referred to as nature's engineer,
and its dam-building activities are important
to natural water flow and erosion control.

State Fish
Chinook Salmon

Also known as spring, king and tyee salmon.
It is the largest of the Pacific salmons,
and the most highly prized for the fresh fish trade.
Declared the state fish, by the 1961 Oregon Legislature,
the Chinook Salmon is found from Southern California,
to the Canadian Arctic. Record catches of 53 inches,
and 126 pounds,have been reported.

State Flower
Oregon Grape
(1889)

A low growing plant, the Oregon Grape,
is native to most of The Pacific Coast,
and found sparsely East of the Cascades.
It's year-round foliage of pinnated,
waxy green leaves, resembles holly.
The plant bears dainty yellow flowers
in early Summer, and a dark blue berry,
that ripens late in the Fall.
The Oregon Grape can be used in cooking and medicine.
The tart taste, is best suited for jams.

State Tree
Douglas Fir

The Douglas Fir, named for David Douglas,
a 19th century Scottish botanist,
was designated state tree in 1939.
Great strength, stiffness, and moderate weight,
make it an invaluable timber product,
said to be stronger than concrete.
Averaging up to 200' in height,
and six feet in diameter,
heights of 325', and diameters of 15',
also can be found.

State Rock
Thunderegg

The Thunderegg, was designated Oregon's official
state rock, by the Oregon Legislature, in 1965.
Thundereggs, range in diameter from less than one inch,
to over four feet. Nondescript on the outside,
they reveal exquisite designs in a wide range of colors,
when cut and polished. They're found chiefly in Crook,
Jefferson, Malheur, Wasco and Wheeler counties.
The Thunderegg selection, was supported by a 2-to-l vote,
by members of the mineral and gem clubs,
of Oregon, and by the patrons of the
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).

State Nut
Hazelnut

The hazelnut, was named state nut,
by the 1989 Legislature.
Oregon grows 99 percent of the entire
U.S. commercial crop. The Oregon hazelnut,
unlike wild varieties, grows on single-trunked trees,
up to 30 or 40 feet tall. They add a unique texture,
and flavor, to recipes and products,
Hazelnuts, are preferred by chefs, bakers, confectioners,
food manufacturers, and homemakers, worldwide.

State Seal

The state seal,
is a shield surrounded by the legend,
State Of Oregon
1859.
The crest of the shield, is the American eagle.
The shield, is partially surrounded by
33 stars, and is divided by a ribbon,
with the inscription The Union.
Above the ribbon, are the mountains and forests of Oregon,
a covered wagon and ox team, an elk,
the Pacific Ocean with the setting sun.
There's a departing British man-of-war ship,
signifying the departure of British influence in the region,
and an arriving American merchant ship,
signifying the rise of American power.
Below the ribbon, a quartering,
with a sheaf of wheat, a plow, and a pickaxe,
which represent Oregon's agricultural
and mining resources.

State Insect
Oregon Swallowtail

The Oregon Swallowtail,
tricks would-be predators,
with an intimidating impersonation.
When it folds its wings back,
a pair of eyespots, and the butterfly's long tail,
make it look like the head of a snake.
In 1979, the Legislature designated,
The Oregon Swallowtail, as Oregon's official insect.
A true native of the Northwest,
The Oregon Swallowtail, is at home in the lower
Sagebrush Canyons, of the Columbia River,
and its tributaries, including the Snake River drainage.
This strikingly beautiful butterfly, predominantly yellow,
is a wary, strong flier, not easily captured.

State Bird
(Since 1927)
Western Meadowlark

This beautiful bird, was chosen state bird,
by Oregon's school children, in a poll,
sponsored by the Oregon Audubon Society.
Native throughout Western North America,
The Western Meadowlark, is known
for its distinctive and beautiful song.

State Gemstone
Sunstone

The 1987 Legislature designated the Oregon Sunstone,
as the official state gemstone. Uncommon in its composition,
clarity, and colors, it is a large, brightly colored
transparent gem, in the feldspar family.
The Oregon Sunstone, attracts collectors and miners,
and has been identified as a boom to tourism,
and economic development in Southeastern Oregon counties.

State Seashell
Oregon Hairy Triton

In 1848, a conchologist, (shell expert) named Redfield,
named the Fusitriton Oregonensis, after the Oregon Territory.
Commonly called the Oregon Hairy Triton,
the shell is the only one that shares the name of a state,
and is one of only three in the world, named after a location.
The shells are found from Alaska to California,
and wash up on the Oregon Coast, at high tide.
The Legislature named it the state shell, on October 1, 1989.

State Beverage
Milk

Milk was selected in 1997, as the state beverage.
The legislature, recognized that milk production,
and the manufacture of dairy products,
are major contributors to the economic,
well being of Oregon agriculture.
Milk consumption in Oregon,
ranks highest in the nation in many areas.
Top quality milk, and prize-winning products,
are aggressively, and effectively marketed by the
Oregon Dairy Products Commission, to the state’s 3.5 million citizens.

State Dance
Square Dance
(Since 1977)

Square Dancing, is the Official State Dance of Oregon
In 1977, the legislature declared the Square Dance,
to be the official state dance. The dance is a combination
of various steps and figures, danced with four or more couples,
grouped in a square. The pioneer origins of the dance,
and the characteristic dress, are deemed to reflect Oregon's heritage.
The lively spirit of the dance, exemplifies the friendly, free nature and enthusiasm that are a part of the Oregon Character.
When the pioneers came west,
they brought with them a dance called the quadrille,
which means square in French.
The pioneers liked the simpler term,
so the square dance was born.
The dance is known for its series of figures and footwork.
Dancers are directed by a caller.
It is easy to learn, a good form of exercise and fun.

Father Of Oregon
Dr. John McLoughlin
(1957)

The 1957 Legislature,
bestowed upon Dr. John McLoughlin,
the honorary title of Father of Oregon,
in recognition of his great contributions,
to the early development of the Oregon Country.
Dr. McLoughlin originally came to the Northwest region,
in 1824, as a representative of the Hudson's Bay Company.

Mother Of Oregon
Tabitha Moffatt Brown
(1987)

Honored by the 1987 Legislature as Mother of Oregon,
Tabitha Moffatt Brown,
represents the distinctive pioneer heritage,
and the charitable and compassionate nature,
of Oregon's people. At 66 years of age,
she financed her own wagon,
for the trip from Missouri to Oregon.
The boarding school for orphans that Tabitha established,
later became known as, Tualatin Academy,
and eventually was chartered as, Pacific University.

State Mushroom
Pacific Golden Chanterelle
(1999)

The 1999 Legislature, recognized,
The Pacific Golden Chanterelle,
as the official mushroom of the State of Oregon.
The Pacific Golden Chanterelle, is a wild,
edible fungi, of high culinary value,
that is unique to the Pacific Northwest.
More than 500,000 pounds of the Pacific Golden Chanterelle,
are harvested annually in Oregon,
representing a large portion of the commercial mushroom business.

State Team
Portland Trail Blazers
(1970)

The Portland Trail Blazers entered the NBA in 1970.
After a typical period of expansion blues,
during which the team languished at the bottom of the standings,
the Blazers turned into one of the league's most solid franchises.
In 1977, after only seven seasons in the league,
the Blazers claimed the NBA Championship.
Led by center Bill Walton, the teams of that era,
induced "Blazermania" in Portland, and introduced
'the manic condition', to the rest of the league.

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