The Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) was adopted as the official state ANIMAL on May 1, 1961. This species is found only in the Rockies, usually above timberline in rugged mountainous areas.
	The Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocoryus stejneger) was adopted as the official state BIRD on April 29, 1931. A migrant bird, flocks of lark buntings arrive in the plains regions of Colorado in April, and fly south again in September.
	The Greenback Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki somias) was adopted as the official state FISH on March 15, 1994. Once indigenous to many small creeks, streams and rivers throughout most of Colorado, this species was almost exterminated by pollution from mine tailings and is now only found in small populations in a few remote streams in Rocky Mountain National Park.
	The state FLAG was adopted by an act of the General Assembly on June 5, 1911. It consists of three alternate stripes of equal width -- the two outer being blue of the same color as in the field of the national flag and the middle being white -- and a circular red C of the same color as the red stripes of the national flag enclosing a golden disk. The flag was originally designed by Andrew Carlisle Carson, but the precise colors were not designated until February 28, 1929; the size of the C, as well as its distance from the staff, was fixed by the General Assembly on March 31, 1964.
	The White and Lavender Columbine (Aquilegia caerules) was adopted as the official state FLOWER on April 4, 1899. In 1925, the General Assembly made it the duty of all citizens to protect this rare species from needless destruction or waste. It is illegal to dig or uproot the flower on public lands, and the law limits the gathering of buds, blossoms and stems to 25 in one day. In addition, it also unlawful to pick the columbine on private land without consent from the land owner.
	The Square Dance was adopted as the official state FOLK DANCE on March 16, 1992.
	The Stegosaurus was designated as the official state FOSSIL on April 28, 1982. This dinosaur lived in the area now known as Colorado about 150 million years ago. There are only six skeletons of the Stegosaurus on public display in the United States, one of which may be viewed at the Museum of Natural History in Denver. This particular skeleton was discovered by a teacher and students from Canon City High School.
	The Aquamarine was adopted as the official state GEMSTONE on April 30, 1971. The mountain peaks of Mount Antero and White Mountain are among the finest quality localities known for gem aquamarine.
	Blue Grama was adopted as the official state GRASS on May 20, 1987. Native to Colorado, blue grama grows throughout many of the state's life zones on both sides of the Continental Divide. A state grass was designated to help inform and educate citizens and tourists about the economic and conservation significance of grasslands.
	The Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly (Hypaurotis cyalus) was adopted as the official state INSECT on April 17, 1996.
	Rhodochrosite was designated the official state MINERAL on April 17, 2002. This deep red to rose pink mineral, which is found in some gold and silver ore-bearing veins, is associated internationally with the state more than any other mineral because the world's largest Rhodochrosite crystal, called the Alma King, was found in the Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado, and is now on display at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
	The state MOTTO, Nil Sine Numine, is Latin for "Nothing without the Deity." It was adopted as part of the Territorial Seal in 1861.
	In 2007, Jay Baichi's 4th grade class began the process to get the Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) designated as the official state REPTILE. The next year's class completed the process, and the legislation was signed on March 18, 2008. The two classes researched Colorado reptiles and decided that the Western Painted Turtle, whic is common to many Colorado ponds and lakes, was most representative of Colorado reptiles.
	In 2004, Girl Scout Troop 357 of Lakewood petitioned the Legislature to have the Yule Marble designated as the official state ROCK, and it was so designated on March 9, 2004. A marble deposit was first reported in 1882 in Gunnison County on Yule Creek, but a producing quarry did not begin operations there until 1906. The outstanding quality of the Yule Marble made it the choice for use in the Colorado State Capitol, as well as the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and other national monuments.
	The design of the Official SEAL of the State of Colorado was adapted from that of the Territorial Seal, which was adopted by the First Territorial Assembly on November 6, 1861. The present design was approved by the first General Assembly on March 15, 1877. At the top is the Eye of God within a triangle, from which golden rays radiate on two sides. Below the ye is a scroll, the Roman Fasces (the insignia of a republican form of government), a bundle of birch or elm rods (symbolizing strength which is lacking in a single rod) with a battle axe (symbolizing authority and leadership) bound together by red thongs and bearing on a band of red, white and blue, the words "Union and Constitution." Below the scroll is a heraldic shield bearing across the top on a red ground three snow-capped mountains with clouds above them. The lower half of the shield has two miner's tools, the pick and sledge hammer, crossed on a golden ground. Below the shield in a semicircle is the state motto.
	Where the Columbines Grow -- words and music by A.J. Fynn -- was adopted as the official state SONG on May 8, 1915. Traveling by horse and wagon to visit Indian tribes in the San Luis Valley in 1896, Fynn received inspiration to write the song after he came across a beautiful Colorado mountain meadow which was covered with columbines and dedicated it the Colorado pioneers. [click here for the words and an audio clip] Rocky Mountain High -- words by John Denver, music by Mike Taylor -- was adopted as another state song on March 12, 2007. The song was released in 1973 by John Denver, who was born Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr., but took his stage name from the capital city of Colorado.
	The official state TARTAN is comprised of a pattern and colors that symbolize Colorado's splendor and history. The pattern (sett) consists of primary blocks of forest green and cerulean blue, separated by broad dividing bands of black, with the forest green checks containing two pairs of tram tracks consisting of lavender and white and with the cerulean blue checks containing a gold stripe with red guard lines. It was adopted on March 3, 1997.
	On Arbor Day in 1892, Colorado school children voted to name the Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) as the official state TREE, but it was not so designated until March 7, 1939. The species was first discovered on Pike's Peak in 1862 by botanist C.C. Parry, and named by George Engelmann in 1879.

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This page was last updated on 05/04/2011.