Utah State Symbols
State Animal - Elk
A member of the deer family, the elk lives in close association
with the deer and moose throughout much of Utah. Only the
male elk carry antlers. They can spread more than 5 feet.
Antlers grow during the summer and are shed in the late
winter. The cows (female elk) are smaller than the male and
do not have antlers. Mature bulls stand up to 60 inches at the
shoulder and may weigh over 700 pounds.
State Bird – California Seagull
The California gull is considered the state bird of Utah by
common consent, probably in commemoration of the fact that
these gulls saved the people of the State by eating up hordes
of crickets which were destroying the crops in 1848
.
State Emblem – Beehive
The beehive became the official state emblem on March 4, 1959. Utahns
relate the beehive symbol to industry and the pioneer virtues of thrift and
perseverance. The beehive was chosen as the emblem for the provisional
State of Deseret in 1848 and was maintained on the seal of the State of
Utah when Utah became a state in 1896.
State Flag
The original Utah State Flag was adopted by the State Legislature in 1896
and revised in 1913. The beehive on the shield stands for hard work and
industry. The date 1847 is the year the Mormons came to Utah. A bald
eagle, the United States national bird, perches atop the shield and
symbolizes protection in peace and war. The sego lily is a symbol of peace
and a U.S. flag appears on each side, symbolizing Utah's support to the
nation. The Utah State Flag, as we know it today, was originally designed
for the battleship Utah in 1912. It was later made the official flag of Utah
when Governor William Spry signed House Joint Resolution I in 1913.
State Flower – Sego Lily
By an act of the Utah State Legislature, approved on March 18, 1911, the sego lily was
declared to be the State floral emblem (Utah Code). Kate C. Snow, President of the
Daughters of Utah Pioneers, in a letter dated April 17, 1930, says that "between 1840 and
1851" food became very scarce in Utah due to a crop-devouring plague of crickets, and that
"the families were put on rations, and during this time they learned to dig for and to eat the
soft, bulbous root of the sego lily. The memory of this use, quite as much as the natural
beauty of the flower, caused it to be selected in after years by the Legislature as the floral
emblem of the State."
The sego lily was made the official state flower after a census was taken of the state's school
children as to their preference for a state flower.
State Insect – Honey Bee
The honey bee, Apis mellifera, became the official state insect in
1983 (Utah Code) through the lobbying efforts of a fifth grade
class. The honey bee is significant in Utah history, as Utah was first
called by its Mormon settlers, "The Provisional State of Deseret," a
Book of Mormon word meaning honey bee.
State Gem – Topaz
The Topaz became the State Gem in 1969 (Utah Code). It is a semiprecious
gem found in Beaver, Juab and Tooele counties of Utah. Small perfect
crystals are found with quartz, hematite, bixbyite, garnet, pseudobrookite,
amethyst, cristobalite, durangite, cassiterite and red beryl in cavities in
rhyolite on Thomas Mountain, Juab County.
State Song – “This Is The Place”
The 2003 Utah State Legislature voted to change the state song from "Utah, We
Love Thee" to "Utah, This is the Place." The Cook Elementary School fourthgraders sang it to Utah senators before they voted on the change (Utah Code).
In 1996, Sam and Gary Francis wrote "Utah, This Is The Place" for Utah's
centennial celebration. Since then, the song has grown in popularity with children,
especially among fourth-graders who learn it as part of their study of Utah
history.
State Tree – Blue Spruce
The blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm) was chosen by the Utah State
Legislature in 1933 to be the state tree. The tree is found in the Wasatch
and Uinta mountains at elevations between 6,000 to 11,000 feet (Utah
Code). It can be transplanted successfully and is widely used as an
ornamental tree. Its foliage is generally silvery blue in color and has the
ability to withstand temperature extremes.
State Fruit – Cherry
House Bill HB33, which designated the cherry as the official
state fruit in 1997, was sponsored by Rep. Fred Hunsanker,
R-Logan; the 2nd graders at Millville Elementary School in
Millville, Utah were responsible for presenting the new state
fruit (Utah Code).
State Rock – Coal
Coal is used during the coking process in
steel production, and is burned in power
plants to produce heat and electricity. Over
one-half of the electricity used in Utah is
generated by coal burning facilities. Coal is
found in 17 of Utah's 29 counties, but coal
mining is primarily concentrated in Emery
and Carbon Counties. Coal production in
Utah during 1994 is estimated at 24 million
tons.
Coal is found in 17 of Utah's 29 counties but
mainly concentrated in Emery and Carbon
Counties. To the right, a D&RGW coal train
winds its way through Carbon County.