|
Maine designated the Moose (Alces
alces) as the official Animal
of Maine in 1979. The largest member of the deer
family in the world, moose roam freely throughout
Maine, especially its many forested areas. |
|
The Wild Blueberry (Vaccinium
angustifolium) was designated the official Berry
of Maine in 1991. Ripe for picking from late July
to early September, harvesting is still done
mainly by hand using a close-tined special rake
invented about 112 years ago by a local
Downeaster, Abijah Tabbutt, and modified in minor
variations since then. Blueberry plants are
plentiful in Maine because their hardy nature
allows them to withstand the harsh weather and
rough soil that are common in the rural parts of
the state. With over 98% of the nation's low bush
blueberries harvested in Maine, this fruit has
become one of Maine's larger exports. |
|
The Black-Capped Chickadee (Parus
atricapillus) was designated the official Bird
of Maine in 1927. Because it does not migrate,
this cheerfully sociable bird is seen in Maine
backyards and feeders year-round. |
|
The Maine Coon was designated
the official Cat of Maine in
1985. Well established more than a century ago,
Maine coon cats are one of the oldest natural
breeds in North America. Superbly equipped for
Maine's harsh winters, it is is believed that the
breed originated as a mix of the pre-existing
shorthaired domestic cats and foreign longhairs
(possibly Angora types introduced by New England
seamen, or longhairs brought to America by the
Vikings). |
|
Blueberry Pie, made with Wild
Maine Blueberries, was designated the official Dessert
of Maine in 2011. |
|
The Landlocked Salmon (Salmo
salar sebago) was designated the official Fish
of Maine in 1969. A subspecies of the Atlantic
salmon that never migrates to the sea, these fish
live their entire lives in the freshwater lakes
of the northern United States and Canada (Maine
has 6,000 lakes and ponds). |
|
Adopted in 1909, the Flag
of Maine features the official Maine State Seal
centered on a field of blue that is the same
shade of blue used on the flag of the United
States. |
|
The White Pine Cone and Tassel
(Pinus strobus) was designated the
official Floral Emblem of Maine
in 1895. Selection of a state floral emblem was
inspired by the "National Garland of
Flowers" at the 1893
World's Fair, which was made of individual
state flowers or floral emblems which were
specified by each of the state legislatures. The
residents of Maine voted on three
candidates-- goldenrod, the apple blossom,
and the pine cone and tassel. Though the pine
cone and tassle is not a flower, the choice is
not surprising considering the role of the white
pine in Maine's history. |
|
Pertica quadrifaria
is the scientific name of a primitive plant that
lived about 390,000,000 years ago. First
discovered in 1968 in the Trout Valley Formation
in Baxter State Park near Mount Katahdin and
found in only three other locations in the world,
this plant is considered a scientifically
important find because it represents an important
step in the evolution of land plants. It was
designated the official state Fossil
in 1985. |
|
Tourmaline from Maine rivals
that from world-famous deposits found in
California, Brazil, and the Himalayas, especially
in its color variations. The best examples in
Maine are found in a very coarse-grained type of
granite called pegmatite. The most common
tourmaline in Maine is schorl, a black,
iron-bearing type. It was designated the official
state Gemstone in 1971. |
|
Wintergreen (Gaultheria
procumbens) was designated the official Herb
of Maine in 1999. |
|
The Honeybee
was designated the official Insect
of Maine in 1975 because of its importance to the
state's agriculture. |
| |
Dirigo ("I
direct") was made the official Motto
of Maine during the first session of the State
Legislature in 1820. |
|
The offical Seal of
Maine features a shield on which
is shown a pine tree (symbolizing Maine's many
forests) with a moose (representing its wildlife)
lying at its foot. The shield is supported on the
left by a farmer resting on a scythe and on the
right by a seaman resting on an anchor,
representing the two most important industries in
Maine. The crest consists of the North Star,
which represents Maine's northern location. The
design of the seal was first adopted in 1820, and
the current design was fixed by the Legislature
in 1919. |
|
Chesuncook Series is a soil
type that was first identified in Maine and is
one of the most widely distributed soil types in
the state. The soil formed in dense glacial till
derived mainly from slate. The soil series name
comes from the Native American word for
converging bodies of water. A lake written about
in Henry David Thoreau's "The Maine
Woods" also shares the name. It was
designated the official Soil of
Maine in 1999. |
|
Song State
of Maine Song, by Roger Vinton Snow Grand
State of Maine,
proudly we sing
To tell your glories to the land,
To shout your praises till the echoes ring.
Should fate unkind
send us to roam,
The scent of the fragrant pines,
the tang of the salty sea
Will call us home.
CHORUS
Oh, Pine Tree State,
Your woods, fields and hills,
Your lakes, streams and rock bound coast
Will ever fill our hearts will thrills,
And tho' we seek far and wide
Our search will be in vain,
To find a fairer spot on earth
Than Maine! Maine! Maine!
|
|
The White Pine was designated
the official Tree of Maine in
1945. |
