New York State Symbols

The arms of New York State were officially adopted in 1778. The center shows a ship and sloop on a river bordered by a grassy shore and a mountain range with the sun rising behind it. Liberty and Justice stand on either side, under an American eagle.

Liberty holds a staff topped with a Phrygian cap, symbolic of the cap given to a Roman slave upon the formal act of emancipation and freedom. This cap was adopted by French revolutionists as a symbol of liberty, especially in the U.S. before 1800.

The figure of Justice is blindfolded and carries a sword in one hand and scales in the other. These symbols represent the impartiality and fairness required for the assignment of a merited reward or punishment.

The banner shows the State motto--Excelsior--which means "Ever Upward."

State Fruit - Apple

The apple was adopted as the State fruit in 1976. Apples are sweet and crisp. They come in many varieties, such as Golden Delicious, McIntosh and Winesap.

State Beverage - Milk

Milk comes from the dairy cow. Butter, cheese and ice cream are made from milk. It was adopted as the State beverage in 1981.

State Tree - Sugar Maple

The sugar maple is our main source of maple syrup made from sap stored in its trunk. Its leaves are pointed and turn bright colors in the fall. The sugar maple was adopted as the State tree in 1956.

State Flower - Rose

The rose was adopted as the State flower in 1955. Roses are soft, fragrant flowers with thorny stems. They grow in bushes and are seen in many gardens.

State Insect - Ladybug

The ladybug is an orange beetle with black spots. It helps gardeners by eating tiny pests that ruin plants. The ladybug was adopted as the State insect in 1989.

State Bird - Bluebird

The bluebird was adopted as the State bird in 1970. The bluebird is one of the first birds to return North each spring.

State Animal - Beaver

Beavers build dams across streams by packing mud with their long, flat tails. The beaver was adopted as the State animal in 1975.

State Fish - Trout

The trout was adopted as the State fish in 1975. Trouts are silvery-brown or rainbow-colored fish that live in freshwater brooks, lakes and streams.

State Fossil - Sea Scorpion

The sea scorpion, now extinct, was adopted as the State fossil in 1984. With its broad head and stinger-like tail, it is a relative of the horseshoe crab.

State Gem - Garnet

The garnet was adopted as the State gem in 1969. Garnets are used in jewelry and are a dark red color.

State Muffin - Apple Muffin

The apple muffin was adopted as the State muffin in 1987 as a result of the efforts of students throughout New York State. Apple muffins are made by adding small pieces of apple to muffin batter before it is baked.

State Shell - Bay Scallop

The bay scallop was adopted as the State shell in 1988. They live at the bottom of the sea and can swim by flapping their shells together.