This is a listing of the Minnesota State Symbols and the year that they were officially adopted by the Minnesota State Legislature.
- State Bird: Loon (1961)
- State Butterfly: Monarch (Danaus plexippus) (2000)
- State Drink: Milk (1984)
- State Fish: Walleye (stizostedion v. vitreum) (1965)
- State Flower: Lady Slipper (Cypripedium reginae) (1902)
- State Fruit: Honeycrisp™ Apple (2006)
- State Grain: Wild Rice (zizania aquatica) (1977)
- State Gemstone: Lake Superior agate (1969)
- State Motto: L’etoile du Nord (translation: “Star of the North” or the “North Star State”) (1861)
- State Muffin: Blueberry Muffin
- State Mushroom: Morel Mushroom (morchella esculenta) (1984)
- State Photo: “Grace” photographed by Eric Enstrom in the town of Bovey, MN (2002)
- State Song: “Hail Minnesota” (1945)
- State Sport: Ice Hockey (2009)
- State Tree: Red (or Norway) pine (1953)
The following is a listing of proposed Minnesota State Symbols that have not yet been officially adopted by the Minnesota State Legislature.
- State Amphibian: Northern Leopard Frog
- State Amusement Ride: Tilt-A-Whirl (manufactured in Minnesota)
- State Animal/Mammal: White Tailed Deer, Eastern Timber Wolf, Black Bear
- State Beer: Schell’s Deer Brand, Cold Spring
- State Book: “Little House on the Prairie”, “On the Banks of Plum Creek”
- State Candy: Licorice
- State Folk Dance: Square Dance
- State Fossil: Giant Beaver
- State Insect: never proposed
- State Mineral: Iron Ore
- State Nickname: “The Gopher State”, “The Land of 10,000 Lakes”, “The North Star State” (never officially adopted probably because all three are equally used)
- State Pipe Band: Minnesota State Fire Service Memorial Pipe Band
- State Reptile: Blanding’s Turtle
- State Soil: Lester
- State Soup: Wild Rice
Additional Minnesota Facts and Stats:
What is the state animal?
There have been many animals or mammals proposed for the State Animal/Mammal (including deer, bear, wolf) but nothing has been official adopted by the Minnesota Legislature.
Hi. I believe there is a Minnesota Official State Photograph, “Old Man Praying” with his hands folded sitting at the table. I think it was someone in Bovey, MN that took the picture. Marilyn Carrigan
P.S. I taught MN History for 34 years at Truman Public School in Truman. I retired in 2005 and it was a few years before that the legislature passed it. The picture is famous nationwide.
Yes, thank you for pointing that out. It’s been added to our Minnesota State Symbols page.