Louisiana Emblems

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 Capitol

  Completed in January 1932, after 14 months of construction, the current State Capitol Building
  cost $5 million. It is 34 stories high and provides 250,000 square feet of floor space. The Capitol
   is surrounded by 27 acres of landscaped gardens.




    
  
  Flag

   Louisiana's flag, although used since the 1800s, was not officially    adopted until 1912. The design
   consists of the pelican group from the state seal in white and gold, and a white ribbon bearing the state
   motto on a field of solid blue.

  Motto "Union, Justice and Confidence."

        

   Seal

    The State Seal was adopted in 1902 and features a pelican tearing flesh from its own breast to feed its
    young. The pelican and its three young are surrounded by the state motto: "Union, Justice and Confidence."

   Songs

    Louisiana has two state songs. "You Are My Sunshine," written by former governor Jimmie Davis and
    Charles Mitchell, is known worldwide. The other song written by Doralice Fontane is "Give Me Louisiana."

    
   Bird

    The brown pelican is Louisiana's official bird. Pelicans are famous for their large bills, the lower portion of which
    has a pouch that can be greatly extended. The pelican is featured on Louisiana's flag and state seal. One of
    Louisiana's nicknames is "The Pelican State."

   Colors

    The state's official colors are gold, white and blue.

   Dog

   The Catahoula Leopard Dog - often called the Catahoula Hound - is the official state dog.
   It is the only breed native to Louisiana and is a cross between a breed of domestic dogs raised
   by the Indians of the Catahoula Lake region and the Spanish "war dog" that came to Louisiana
   in the 16th Century.

      Flower

      The large, creamy-white bloom of the magnolia tree was designated the state flower in 1900 because
      of its abundance throughout the state. The magnolia is an evergreen, and the flower has an especially
      rich fragrance.

    



  Fossil   The state fossil is petrified palmwood.


 Gemstone   The state gemstone is agate.










       Insect     The state insect is the honeybee.

   Tree

    The bald cypress, the state tree, is a beautiful hardwood that grows
    all over the state, especially in swampy areas.