Introduction to
Maine Symbols

From the mighty white pine and moose to the black-capped chickadee, Maine’s symbols are as solid as its rocky coasts.

Maine’s nicknames include Border State and Old Dirigo State. But it is first and foremost the Pine Tree State, a reputation it acquired when its majestic white pines were in demand for use as masts on sailing ships.

Maine boasts one of the most concise state mottoes. Dirigo translates “I lead.”

Plants

Maine/Introduction’s blueberry represents four states (Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey and North Carolina), along with the province of Nova Scotia. But its most powerful symbol by far is the eastern white pine, which serves as the state flower, tree and nickname.

Maine’s official flower, the white pine cone and tassel, isn’t really a flower at all. It shares its state tree with Michigan and Ontario, while Idaho is represented by the western white pine.

More recently, wintergreen was designated Maine’s official herb.

Animals

Maine shares its state bird, the black-capped chickadee, with Massachusetts and New Brunswick.

Maine/Introduction is one of seventeen states with two or more official mammals. Its state animal is the moose, another symbol of the boreal forest which also represents Alaska and Norway. Maine also has an official cat, the Maine Coon Cat.

An effort to adopt the finback whale as a symbol failed, and Maine remains one of the few coastal states without an official marine mammal.

The landlocked salmon serves as Maine’s official fish. The state insect is the introduced honeybee, which also represents over a dozen other states.

Though not officially adopted as a symbol, Maine lobsters are more famous than such official crustaceans as Maryland’s blue crab and Louisiana’s crawfish.

Earth Symbols

Maine is one of the few states that designated a plant the official fossil. No ordinary plant, Pertica quadrifaria hails to the Devonian Period, when plants were still colonizing the land. Maine’s state fossil lived the state motto, “I lead.”

The official gemstone is tourmaline.

Miscellaneous Symbols

Maine/Introduction is one of sixteen states with an official tartan. Maine also has an official vessel, the schooner Bowdoin.

Maine is one of several states with an official drink (or beverage) and language. Fortunately, Mainers didn’t morph into Maniacs and choose milk and English. Instead, they made refreshingly unique choices. Indeed, I’d never even heard of moxie, while American Sign Language is familiar to people who have never heard.

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