List of Washington state symbols

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Location of the State of Washington in the United States of America

The following is a list of symbols of the U.S. of State of Washington.

[edit] Official state symbols

Official state symbols recognized by law.^[1]

Type	Symbol	Description	Year adopted	Image
Amphibian	Pacific Chorus Frog (Pseudacris regilla)	"The Pacific chorus frog was chosen because it resides on both sides of the Cascades and in all counties of Washington. […] It is important that Washington designate a state amphibian because there are so many amphibians in the state. Sixteen other states already have state amphibians. The Pacific chorus frog is the most widely distributed amphibian in Washington. The Pacific chorus frog is charming and makes beautiful sounds. It is useful because it eats insects, including mosquitoes."^[2]	2007
Arboretum	Washington Park Arboretum	"The legislature finds that the arboreta in this state act as living museums devoted to the display and conservation of woody plant species from around the world that can grow in the Pacific Northwest. Arboreta enhance public appreciation for the aesthetic diversity of temperate woody plants; conserve both natural and cultivated woody plant taxa to preserve their diversity for future appreciation; educate the public and students concerning urban landscape use and the natural biology of temperate woody plants; and cooperate with similar institutions in this region and around the world in achieving these common goals. The legislature further finds that arboreta are of increasing importance as world biodiversity declines. The Washington park arboretum is a two hundred acre living museum that is managed cooperatively by the city of Seattle and the University of Washington. It is devoted to the display and conservation of collections of plants from around the world which can grow in the Pacific Northwest. These plants are used for education, research, conservation, and a sense of public pleasure. The Washington park arboretum, the oldest center for botanical and gardening learning in the Pacific Northwest, is recognized as one of the two foremost collections of woody plants in the United States of America and enjoys an excellent international reputation. The legislature finds that it is fitting and appropriate to recognize the importance of the overall mission of the Washington park arboretum."^[3]	1995
Bird	Willow Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)	^[4]	1951
Dance	Square Dance	^[5]	1979
Fish	Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdnerii)	^[6]	1969
Flag	Flag of Washington	"The official flag of the state of Washington shall be of dark green silk or bunting and shall bear in its center a reproduction of the seal of the state of Washington embroidered, printed, painted or stamped thereon. The edges of the flag may, or may not, be fringed. If a fringe is used the same shall be of gold or yellow color of the same shade as the seal. The dimensions of the flag may vary. The secretary of state is authorized to provide the state flag to units of the armed forces, without charge therefor, as in his discretion he deems entitled thereto. The secretary of state is further authorized to sell the state flag to any citizen at a price to be determined by the secretary of state."^[7]	1923
Flower	Pacific Rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum)	^[8]	1959
Folk Song	"Roll On, Columbia, Roll On"	"The legislature recognizes that winter recreational activities are part of the folk tradition of the state of Washington. Winter recreational activities serve to turn the darkness of a northwest winter into the dawn of renewed vitality. As the winter snows dissolve into the torrents of spring, the Columbia river is nourished. The Columbia river is the pride of the northwest and the unifying geographic element of the state. In order to celebrate the river which ties the winter recreation playground of snowcapped mountains and the Yakima, Snake, and the Klickitat rivers to the ocean so blue, the legislature declares that the official state folk song is 'Roll On Columbia, Roll On,' composed by Woody Guthrie."^[9]	1987	–
Fossil	Columbian Mammoth (Mammuthus columbi)	"The legislature recognizes that the large, hairy prehistoric elephants of the extinct genus Mammuthus roamed the North American continent, including the Pacific Northwest, during the Pleistocene epoch (ice ages)."^[10]	1998
Fruit	Apple (Malus domestica)	^[11]	1989
Gem	Petrified Wood	^[12]	1975
Grass	Bluebunch Wheatgrass (Pseudoroegnaria spicata)	^[13]	1989
Insect	Green Darner Dragonfly (Anax junius)	"The legislature finds that the common green darner dragonfly, Anax junius drury [sic], can be found throughout Washington and is easily recognizable by its bright green head and thorax. The legislature further recognizes that the common green darner dragonfly, also known as the "mosquito hawk," is a beneficial contributor to our ecosystem."^[14]	1997
Mammal	Olympic Marmot (Marmota Olympus)	"The legislature finds that the Olympic marmot, the only endemic mammal in Washington state, should be designated as the state endemic mammal. The Olympic marmot inhabits the Olympic Peninsula in the western section of the state of Washington. Olympic marmots hibernate from September to May. During the morning and afternoon on summer days they feed and spend time sunbathing on rocks. In the evening, they return to their burrow. Olympic marmots are relatively easy to see during the summer months along Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park. Olympic marmots eat herbs, grasses, and flowers. They prefer plants that are soft and easy to digest. They may also eat fruits, legumes, and insects. Olympic marmots are highly social and may live in groups of over a dozen animals. Gregarious bonds are made between individuals in a family. Olympic marmots identify each other by touching noses and smelling cheeks. The legislature intends to promote awareness of the Olympic marmot by designating the Olympic marmot as the official endemic mammal of the state of Washington."^[15]	2009
Marine Mammal	Orca Whale (Orcinus orca)	"The Legislature intends to promote orca awareness and encourage protection of the natural marine habitat by designating the orca whale, Orcinus orca, as the official marine mammal of the state of Washington."^[16]	2007
Poet Laureate	Washington Poet Laureate	"The legislature wishes to recognize: (1) The value of poetry and the contribution Washington poets make to the culture of our state; (2) that poetry is a literary form respected and growing throughout all segments of Washington's population; (3) that awareness and appreciation of poetry encourages increased literacy and advanced communication skills; and (4) that Washington state has produced many excellent and nationally recognized poets."^[17]	2007
Seal	Seal of Washington	"The seal of the state of Washington shall be, a seal encircled with the words: "The Seal of the State of Washington," with the vignette of General George Washington as the central figure, and beneath the vignette the figures "1889" and shall be composed as appears in the illustration below:"^[18]	1967
Ship	Lady Washington	^[19]	2007
Song	"Washington, My Home"	^[20]	1959	–
Tartan	Washington State Tartan	"The tartan shall have a pattern of colors, called a sett, that is made up of a green background with stripes of blue, white, yellow, red, and black. The secretary of state shall register the tartan with the Scottish Tartan Society, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland."^[21]	1991
Tree	Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)	^[22]	1947
Vegetable	Walla Walla Sweet Onion (Allium cepa)	"The Walla Walla Sweet onion is grown in Walla Walla County, but finds its origins on the island of Corsica. Over a century ago, a retired French soldier named Peter Pieri found a sweet onion seed there and brought it to the Walla Walla Valley. The sweet onion had impressive winter hardiness well-suited for the climate of southeastern Washington. Soon Pieri and many Italian immigrants in the area began harvesting the seed. Over several generations of careful hand selection, the sweet onion developed greater sweetness, size, and shape. Today, there are approximately 40 growers producing Walla Walla Sweet onions on 1,200 acres of farmland in the Walla Walla Valley. Sweet onion season is mid-June through September and, since 1984, Walla Walla has celebrated the Sweet Onion Festival every July. Onions have been a food source for at least 5,000 years. There are ancient Chinese, Sumerian, Mesopotamian, and Egyptian references to the cultivation of onions. The onion was also an essential part of the Ancient Roman and Greek diet. In more recent times, the onion has been an essential part of classical French cooking in the bourgeoise, nivernaise, and soubise sauces. Today the onion crop is a $400 million crop in the United States. Other sweet onion varieties are the: Texas Yellow Bermuda, White Bermuda, and Crystal Wax; the Vidalia Sweet from Georgia; Hawaii's Maui Sweet; and the Nevada Sweetie Sweet. […] The Walla Walla Sweet is from Walla Walla and only from Walla Walla. Indeed, this sweet onion is only grown properly in the Walla Walla Valley. Because of that it deserves the notoriety of being designated the state vegetable. Last year there was some resistance from the potato community, but this year they have gotten behind the bill and are giving the Walla Walla Sweet their full support. This bill will also give a shot in the arm to the Walla Walla Sweet onion farmers who have fallen on tough times. Designating the Walla Walla Sweet as the state vegetable will assist in marketing this gourmet delicacy across the nation. ^[23]	2007