Symbols of Idaho

State song

And here we have Idaho, Winning her way to fame. Silver and gold in the sunlight blaze, And romance lies in her name. Singing, we're singing of you, Ah, proudly too. All our lives thru, We'll go singing, singing of you, Singing of Idaho.

Emma Edwards Green

Designed Idaho's seal. The only state seal to be designed by a woman.

State Amphibian

Idaho Giant Salamander is the largest salamander that can be found in Idaho (maturing to a length of about thirteen inches), the Idaho giant salamander is seldom seen in the open; it keeps mostly to secret, moist places such as under logs.

state horse

Idaho designated the native appaloosa as the official state horse in 1975.

state dance

Idaho designated the square dance as the official state American folk dance in 1989. Twenty-two states have passed legislation to declare the square dance as the state folk dance, and more than thirty bills have been introduced at the federal level proposing the square dance as the national (folk) dance of the United States.

Idaho State Seal

Idaho has the only state seal designed by a woman. It depicts equal rights for men and women as well as the many natural resources that Idaho has to offer.

state capital

Located on the Boise River in southwestern Idaho, Boise is the state capital and most populous city of Idaho

state flower

Syringa (Philadelphus lewisii) is a woody shrub with clusters of white, fragrant flowers (sometimes called mock orange) that grows up to 10 feet tall.

state fossil

The Hagerman horse is the oldest known representative of the modern horse genus Equus (which includes horses, donkeys, and zebras) and is believed to be more closely related to the living Grevy's zebra in Africa than our modern horse.

Flag of Idaho

The State Flag of Idaho was adopted in 1907.

state fish

The cutthroat trout was designated the official state fish of Idaho in 1990. Many states recognize species of trout as state symbols because they can only live in water that is cool, clean, and pure.

state fruit

The huckleberry was designated the official state fruit of Idaho in 2000 (fourth-grade students from Southside Elementary School in Bonner County proposed adopting the huckleberry as Idaho's state fruit).

State Raptor

The magnificent peregrine falcon was designated the official state raptor of Idaho in 2004. The peregrine falcon is featured on the U.S. Mint's Idaho state quarter.

State insect

The monarch butterfly was designated the official state insect of Idaho in 1992, thanks to the efforts of 4th grade students at Boise's Cole Elementary School (with help from their teacher). Seven states have adopted the iconic monarch butterfly as an insect symbol.

state vegetable

The potato was designated the official state vegetable of Idaho in 2002

state gem

The star garnet was designated the official state stone or gem of Idaho in 1967. More precious than either star rubies or star sapphires, the Idaho garnet is usually dark purple or plum in color, with four rays in the star.

Esto Perpetua

The state motto of Idaho is the Latin phrase "Esto Perpetua," which means "Let it be Perpetual." Idaho's motto appears on the state quarter, the great seal and Idaho's state flag.

state tree

The western white pine tree grows in the mountains of the western United States and Canada, extending down to sea level in many areas. Western white pine wood is soft, straight-grained, and evenly textured. It is used to make everything from houses to wooden matches.

symbol

a picture, object or action that stands for something

state bird

he bluebird family is especially plentiful in Idaho's mountains. The mountain bluebird is a small thrush found on ranch land and other open areas of the American West.