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New York State Symbols and Facts

State of New York Motto

Excelsior (Ever Upward) is the State's motto. In 1784, during a tour of the State's harbors, waterways and fertile interior, George Washington referred to New York as the "Seat of Empire." Since then, New Yorkers have worked ambitiously to live up to the State's motto and to make "The Empire State" the national leader it is today.

State of New York Flag
The device of arms of the State flag was adopted in 1778 and the present flag is a modern version of a Revolutionary War flag. It is dark blue with the State Coat of Arms in the center. The Coat of Arms shows Liberty and Justice standing either side of a shield upon which is emblazoned the sun rising behind a range of mountains. A three-masted, square-rigged ship and a Hudson River sloop signify commerce. Beneath the shield is the State motto. The original is at The Albany Institute of History and Art.

State of New York Fruit – Apple

Apples were introduced in the 1600s by European settlers who brought seeds to New York. Dried apples were a staple for colonists and hard apple cider was a popular drink.

State of New York Tree - Sugar Maple

The sugar maple yields a sweet sap for syrup and sugar in the spring; its heavy crown of leaves turns to brilliant colors in autumn. The wood makes fine furniture and burns well in woodstoves and fireplaces.

State of New York Flower – Rose

The rose, in all its variety and color, was made the State flower in 1955. Roses have been appreciated throughout the centuries and are considered one of the most popular and widely cultivated flowers in the world today, with over 150 species and more than 20,000 hybrids available.

State of New York Animal – Beaver

To provide beaver pelts to European markets, fur traders settled in the early 1600's near our present capital at Albany, NY - to trade with Indians. Adult beavers are three to four feet long and weigh 40 to 50 pounds.

State of New York Fish – Trout

Found in hundreds of lakes and ponds in the Adirondack Mountains and scattered in cool, clear streams throughout the State, native brook trout, called brookies or speckles, provide fine angling and the best of eating. bluebird picture and sound copyright, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

State of New York Bird – Bluebird

Once-prolific, the red-breasted bluebird has been making a comeback from low numbers in the 1950s. Many people provide special nesting boxes along fencerows for bluebirds. They winter throughout the State.

State of New York Fossil - Sea Scorpion

During the Silurian Age (over 400 million years ago), Eurypterus Remipes, an extinct relative of the modern king crab and sea scorpion, crawled along the bottom of the shallow, brackish sea that extended from Buffalo, NY to Schenectady and south to Poughkeepsie, NY, roughly along the route of the New York Thruway.

State of New York Gem – Garnet

The wine-red garnet which is an eye appealing gem, as well as a prized industrial abrasive, is the State gem.

State of New York Muffin - Apple Muffin

The apple muffin was created for the Bear Road Elementary School children in North Syracuse, who were instrumental in getting the Governor to sign a bill making it the official State muffin.

State of New York Song - "I Love New York"

Words and music by Steve Karmen
I LOVE NEW YORK (repeat three times)
There isn't another like it.
No matter where you go.
And nobody can compare it.
It's win and place and show.
New York is special.
New York is diff'rent' cause there's no place else
on earth quite like New York and that's why
I LOVE NEW YORK. (repeat three times)