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Click on the images below
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Each
state has an official seal, which is
carefully described by law and serves
functions on the state level of
government that are similar to those of
the seal of the United States on the
federal level. There is an impression
seal to stamp the official government
documents (like proclamations) and a
printed seal for official state
publications. The impression seal is
usually stamped onto paper over a circle
of silver foil and the printed seal is
used on the cover or first page of state
publications or on letterhead
stationary. In
1999 the State Legislature added
official colors to the seal when it is
displayed in color.
Nevada’s state seal was designed during
the state constitutional conventions in
Carson City in 1863 and 1864 and was
officially adopted by the state
legislature in 1866. Allinson
Nightengill, a delegate to the first
constitutional convention and later the
first State Controller came up with the
design, which was sent to the Nahl
Brothers of San Francisco who engraved
it for $150 in 1865. Hugo Wilhelm Arthur
Nahl and his half-brother Charles Nahl
were both well-known artists, They also
designed and engraved the California
State Seal.
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STATE FLAG:
The New Nevada State Flag; cobalt blue background; in upper left quarter is a five-pointed silver star between two sprays of
sagebrush crossed to form a half wreath; across the top of wreath
is a golden scroll with the words, in black letters "Battle Born." The name "Nevada"
is below the star and above the sprays in golden letters. Design modified June 8,
1991, original design approved on March 21, 1929.
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STATE COLORS:
The colors silver and blue are designated as the official state colors of the State of Nevada.
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STATE SONG:
"Home Means Nevada" by Mrs. Bertha Raffetto, Reno; adopted February 6, 1933.
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STATE MARCH:
"Silver State Fanfare" by
Gerald Willis is the official
march of the State of Nevada;
adopted May 29, 2001.
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STATE TREE:
Two trees share the State tree designation. Single-Leaf Pinon (Pinus monophylla) (shown at the right) is an aromatic pine tree with
short, stiff needles and gnarled branches. The tree grows in coarse, rocky soils and rock crevices. Though its normal height is about 15 feet, the
single-leaf pinon can grow as high as 50 feet under ideal conditions.
The Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata) shares the state tree designation.
The bristlecone pine is the oldest living thing on Earth, with some specimens in Nevada more than 4,000 years of age. The tree can be found at high elevations.
Normal height for older trees is about 15 to 30 feet, although some have attained a height of 60 feet. Diameter growth continues throughout the
long life of the tree, resulting in massive trunks with a few contorted limbs.
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STATE FLOWER:
Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) grows abundantly in the deserts of the Western United States. A member of the wormwood family, sagebrush is a
branching bush (1 to 12 feet high) and grows in regions where other kinds of vegetation cannot subsist. Known for its pleasant aroma, its gray-green
twigs, and pale yellow flowers, sagebrush is an important winter food for sheep and cattle.
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STATE GRASS:
Indian Ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), once a staple food source for Nevada Indians, now provides valuable feed for wildlife and range livestock.
This tough native grass, which is found throughout the state, is known for its ability to reseed and establish itself on sites damaged by fire
or over grazing.
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STATE BIRD:
The Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) lives in the Nevada high
country and destroys many harmful insects. It is a member of the thrush family and its song is a clear, short warble like the caroling of a robin.
The male is azure blue with a white belly, while the female is brown with a bluish rump, tail, and wings.
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STATE REPTILE:
The Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), the largest reptile in the Southwestern United States, lives in the extreme southern parts of
Nevada. Its hard, dome-shaped shell ranges from tan to black in color. This reptile spends much of its life in underground burrows to escape the
harsh summer heat and winter cold. The desert tortoise can live to be more than 70 years old.
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STATE ANIMAL:
The Desert Bighorn (or Nelson) Sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) is
smaller than its Rocky Mountain cousin but has a wider spread of horns. The bighorn is well-suited for Nevada's mountainous desert country because
it can survive for long periods without water. The large rams stand about 4 1/2 feet tall and can weigh as much as 175 pounds.
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STATE FISH:
The Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (Salmo clarki henshawi), a native trout found in 14 of the state's 17 counties, is adapted to habitats
ranging from high mountain creeks and alpine lakes to warm, intermittent lowland streams and alkaline lakes where no other trout can live.
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STATE FOSSIL:
The Ichthyosaur (Shonisaurus) fossil was found in Berlin, east of Gabbs. Nevada is the only state to
possess a complete skeleton (approximately 55 feet long) of this extinct marine reptile.
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STATE ARTIFACT:
The Tule Duck was created by early Nevadans almost 2,000 years ago. Discovered by archeologists in 1924 during an excavation at Lovelock
Cave, the 11 decoys are each formed of a bundle of bullrush (tule) stems, bound together and shaped to resemble a canvasback duck.
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STATE METAL:
The metallic element known as Silver (Ag) is designated as the official state metal of the State of Nevada.
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STATE PRECIOUS GEMSTONE:
Among the many gemstones found in Nevada, the Virgin Valley Black Fire Opal is one of the most beautiful. The Virgin Valley in northern Nevada is the
only place in North America where the Black Fire Opal is found in any significant quantity.
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STATE SEMI-PRECIOUS GEMSTONE:
Nevada Turquoise, sometimes called the "Jewel of the Desert," is found in many parts of the state.
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STATE ROCK:
Sandstone, in its more traditionally recognized form or as quartzite, is found throughout the state. In areas such as the Valley of Fire State Park and Red Rock
Canyon Recreational Lands, both near Las Vegas, it provides some of Nevada's most spectacular scenery. The State Capitol, and the former United States
Mint, are built of sandstone.
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STATE CAPITAL
Carson City; designated in July 1864; also territorial capital dating back to 1861.
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STATE TARTAN
The tartan designed by Richard Zygmunt Pawlowski is designated as the official state tartan.
See details here
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STATE LICENSE PLATES
State officials decided on the New "Sunset" License Plate
because they didn't want Nevada's tags confused with
Arizona's, which depicts the desert. The Department of Motor Vehicles also offers
a number of plates in which a portion of the fees paid helps
support a charity or a cause.
View older plates here
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FOODS FROM NEVADA
We get asked many times whether there is a typical food or recipe of Nevada. The editors of Nevada Magazine compiled a “sampler of some of the prominent ethnic and regional foods found in Nevada.”
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NRS Chapter 235 - State Emblems
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