Oklahoma Symbols

State Flag

The Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma

The state seal was designed by Gabe E. Parker and its elements are described in the Oklahoma Constitution. The seal is circular and features a five-pointed star in the center. Within the star is the basic design of the seal of the Territory of Oklahoma and with the words Labor Omnia Vincit, which means “labor conquers all.” Columbia, a symbol of justice and statehood, stands holding the scales of justice. In front of her, a pioneer farmer and an American Indian stand clasping hands.

Inside the rays of the star are emblems of the Five Tribes. The ray pointing directly upward contains a symbol of the Chickasaw Nation: an Indian warrior holding a bow. The upper-right ray features symbols of the Choctaw Nation: a tomahawk, bow, and three crossed arrows. The lower-right ray features symbols of the Seminole Nation: a village with houses and a factory next to a lake on which a man paddles a canoe. The lower-left ray contains symbols of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation: a sheaf of wheat and a plow. The upper-left ray features symbols of the Cherokee Nation: a seven-pointed star surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves.

In the background of the seal, surrounding the main star, are forty-five smaller stars, representing the forty-five states in the Union when Oklahoma became the forty-sixth state. The words “GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1907” appear in a circular band around the seal (Okla. Const. art. 6 § 35).

Animal

American Bison (Bison bison)
The American bison was adopted as the state animal in 1972. The resolution states, “the magnificent animal was native to both the grasslands and woodlands of what is now Oklahoma and was significant in the cultures and ceremonies of many of the Indian tribes who lived in Oklahoma and have passed along their heritage to modern-day Oklahomans” (SCR101, 1972). Bison are large mammals with a brown coat, a hump on their shoulders, and shaggy hair around their heads. Bison can reach up to 2,000 pounds and stand almost six feet tall. Find out more in The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.

Furbearer

Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
Raccoons are known for their distinctive markings. Raccoons have ringed tails, and dark fur around their eyes, which resembles a mask. The raccoon was named the state furbearer in 1989 (SCR25, 1989).

Game Animal

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
The white-tailed deer has a brown coat in the summer, which turns gray throughout the rest of the year. Males grow large antlers and can weigh more than 200 pounds. The resolution called the white-tailed deer “the most beautiful and prized symbol of Oklahoma wildlife” (SCR24, 1989). You can learn more about deer in The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.

Horse

American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse was designated the state horse in 2022. The bill states, “the American Quarter Horse’s name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of one-quarter (1/4) mile or less” and explains the horse is “a quick and smart cow horse and is the most popular breed of horse in the United States today.” (25 OS § 94.17).

Heritage Horse

Oklahoma Colonial Spanish Horse
The Oklahoma Colonial Spanish horse was designated the official Heritage Horse in 2014. According to the resolution, “the Oklahoma Colonial Spanish horse, which originated from Spanish horses brought to the Americas with early settlers, is unique in its genetics, history, geography, and contributions to the people of Oklahoma” (SCR34, 2014). The resolution recognizes that “the Oklahoma Colonial Spanish horse maintains 100 percent Spanish genetic markers and has been considered the purest free-roaming Colonial Spanish horse in the United States, and since 1980 their genetics have been preserved in the foundation herds of Bryant and Darlene Rickman of Southeastern Oklahoma.”

Pet

Rescue Animals
Rescue animals were designated the official state pet in 2021. The law is known as “Cali’s Law,” and was named after State Representative Mark McBride’s Catahoula-mix rescue dog, Cali, who he adopted from an animal shelter (25 OS § 98.20).

Bird

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)
The scissor-tailed flycatcher was named the state bird in 1951 (25 OS § 98). The bird has a mostly gray body with a white breast and a distinctive forked tail, which can grow up to nine inches long. Find out more about the scissor-tailed flycatcher in The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.

Raptor

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
A raptor is a bird of prey, which means it feeds on other animals. It is also one of the most common bird species in Oklahoma. The idea to recognize the red-tailed hawk came from ten-year-old Ephraim Bowling from Oklahoma City. The red-tailed hawk became the official state raptor in 2018 (25 OS § 98.17).

Game Bird

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
In 2006 the wild turkey was named the official game bird (25 OS § 98.13). Wild turkeys are large birds, and the brightly colored males can weigh more than twenty pounds.

Flying Mammal

Mexican Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)
Mexican free-tailed bats typically make their home in caves and can be found in Oklahoma’s Selman Bat Cave Wildlife Management Area. These bats are dark brown with long, narrow wings. They are called “free-tailed” because the end of their tail extends past the membrane that connects their wings and tail. The Mexican free-tailed bat was named the state’s flying mammal in 2006 (25 OS § 98.11).

Reptile

Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris)
The collared lizard, also known as the mountain boomer, can grow up to a foot long. The name “collared” comes from the dark bands around the lizard’s neck. Males are brightly colored while females are gray or tan. The 1969 resolution calls the collard lizard “one of the most interesting zoological specimens in Oklahoma” (HCR1009, 1969).

Amphibian

Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)
The bullfrog was declared as the state amphibian in 1997. The resolution proclaimed the bullfrog “an integral part of the ecology of Oklahoma and generally represents the importance of all species of amphibians to the environment and our state” (HCR1026, 1997).

Fish

White Bass (Morone chrysops)
The white bass, also known as the sand bass, was adopted as the state fish in 1974 (25 OS § 98.2). According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, white bass are native to the state and survive on a diet of minnows, shad, crustaceans, and insects.

Butterfly

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
This black swallowtail butterfly is mostly black, with a row of colored spots. Males have yellow markings, while females have yellow and blue accents. The butterfly was adopted in 1996 in a bill that states, “the black swallowtail plays a vital role in the cross-pollination of plant life in Oklahoma, which is a necessary link in the chain which supports our ecology. In addition, the presence of the black swallowtail in Oklahoma not only adds color and beauty to our state but provides enjoyment for our citizens and an opportunity to study and understand the contributions this insect makes to our environment.” (23 OS § 98.5).

Insect

Honeybee (Apis mellifera)
In 1992 the honeybee became the state insect. The resolution described the importance of the insect stating, “the honeybee is critical to crop pollination and plays a vital role in our varied and plentiful food supply” (SCR75, 1992).

Fruit

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa)
Oklahoma recognized the strawberry in 2005 when fifth-grade students from Skiatook Intermediate Elementary in Osage County held an election to choose a state fruit. The winner was the strawberry and their teacher, Pam Bell, asked Representative Joe Sweeden to sponsor the bill. The bill passed, naming the strawberry the official state fruit (25 OS § 98.10). Strawberries are also part of the official state meal, and the town of Stilwell in Adair County holds a strawberry festival each year.

Vegetable

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
Watermelon was adopted as the state vegetable in 2007 (25 OS § 98.15). According to a 2007 fiscal impact statement, Oklahoma produced more than 77 million pounds of watermelon the previous year. The town of Rush Springs in Grady County is known for its yearly watermelon festival.

Legume

Soybean (Glycine max)
A state legume was named in 2024 (25 OS § 94.18). Students and teachers from Morrison Public Schools in Noble County proposed soybeans as the official state legume to highlight the importance of this crop. According to data from the US Department of Agriculture, there were more than 1,100 soybean farms in the state in 2022. They can be served shelled or still in the pod, known as edamame. Soybeans are used to make soy milk, tofu, and cooking oil, or to feed poultry and livestock. Other soy-based products include biodiesel, adhesives, ink, plastics, foam, and lubricants.

Floral Emblem

Mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum)
Mistletoe is Oklahoma’s oldest symbol, chosen as Oklahoma Territory’s floral emblem in 1893 (25 OS § 92A). Learn more about mistletoe in The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.

Flower

Oklahoma Rose
The Oklahoma rose is a hybrid tea rose created by Herbert Swim and O. L. Weeks in 1964. Oklahoman Dottie Weissenberger lobbied for more than thirty years to have the Oklahoma rose named as our official state flower. It was finally adopted in 2004 (25 OS § 92).

Wildflower

Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella)
The Indian blanket, also known as the blanket flower, is a small, daisy-shaped flower with red petals tipped with yellow. It was named the state wildflower in 1986 (25 OS § 92.1). Learn more about the Indian blanket in The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.

Fiber

Cotton
Cotton, one of the state’s largest crops, was named the state fiber in 2021. The resolution cited that “cotton grown in Oklahoma provides feed for livestock, fiber for clothing, cotton seed oil for cooking, cellulose for plastics and high-quality paper for currencies” (SCR7, 2021). The effort was led by third-grade students from Frederick Elementary in Frederick, Tillman County, who watched in the galleries of the Senate and House of Representatives as the resolution was passed.

Learn more about cotton in The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.

Tree

Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
The redbud is a colorful tree that typically grows twenty to thirty feet tall. The tree is known for its small, dark pink flowers (25 OS § 97, 1937, later moved to 2 OS § 16-69, 2001).

Learn more about the redbud tree in The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.

Grass

Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Indian grass grows in every county in Oklahoma. This perennial has green blades and golden brown seed heads, and grows three to five feet tall. The 1972 resolution declared Indian grass “has been in the past, and remains today, one of the most productive, palatable and important native grasses in Oklahoma” (SCR72, 1972).

Soil

Port Silt Loam (Cumulic haplustolls)
In 1987 Oklahoma recognized port silt loam as the official state soil. The resolution calls it “a highly productive soil which can support a wide variety of crops as well as range, pasture, woodlands and native wildlife” which “occurs in more counties in Oklahoma than any other soil type” (HJR1014, 1987).

Rock

Rose Rock (Barite rose)
The rose rock is composed of barite, a common mineral, and sand. Rose rocks, with their red coloring and petal-like shape, are found in only a few locations around the world. In 1968 the rose rock was named the official state rock (25 OS § 98.1). Learn more about rose rocks in The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.

Crystal

Hourglass Selenite
In 2005 hourglass selenite was named the state crystal (25 OS § 98.8). Selenite is a crystallized form of gypsum that can be found in Oklahoma’s Great Salt Plains. The idea to declare hourglass selenite a state symbol was proposed by students from Bryant and Red Oak elementary schools located in Moore, Oklahoma.

Dinosaur

Acrocanthosaurus atokensis
Acrocanthosaurus atokensis was named the state dinosaur in 2006. Acrocanthosaurus means “high-spined lizard,” and partial skeletons of this dinosaur were excavated in Atoka County, Oklahoma (25 OS § 98.14).

Fossil

Saurophaganax maximus
Saurophaganax maximus was named the state fossil in 2000. It was a huge, predatory dinosaur that was larger than the Tyrannosaurus rex. The bill states that “this spectacular dinosaur, the ‘greatest king of reptile eaters,’ once roamed this great land” (25 OS § 98.6).

Astronomical Object

Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237)
The Rosette Nebula was named the state astronomical object in 2019 (25 OS § 98.18). A nebula is a large cloud of dust or gas located in outer space. This nebula is in the Monoceros region of the Milky Way Galaxy, located about 5,000 light-years from Earth.

Cartoon Character

GUSTY
In 2005 GUSTY was named the state cartoon character (25 OS § 98.9). GUSTY was created by meteorologist Don Woods, who would draw the character during his televised weather reports.

Monument

Golden Driller
The Golden Driller stands in front of the Tulsa Expo Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Permanently installed 1966, the monument is seventy-six feet tall and weighs more than 43,500 pounds. A plaque at the base of the driller reads, “The Golden Driller, a symbol of the International Petroleum Exposition. Dedicated to the men of the petroleum industry who by their vision and daring have created from God’s abundance a better life for mankind.” It was named the state monument in 1979 (SCR23, 1979).

Pin

“OK” pin
The Oklahoma Legislature designated the “OK” pin the official state pin in 1982. The resolution states the pin “shall consist of the letters ‘OK’ with a sky blue replica of the State of Oklahoma imposed over the letters. Inside the replica of the State of Oklahoma shall be a circular rawhide American Indian shield, with the lower half of the shield fringed with pendant eagle feathers, and superimposed on the face of the shield a calumet or peace pipe, crossed at right angles by an olive branch” (SCR36, 1982).

Steak

Ribeye
The ribeye became the official state steak in 2019 (25 OS § 98.19). This cut of meat comes from the rib section of a cow.