Adopted in 1902, the Great Seal of Louisiana was created at the request of Gov. W.W. Heard in an attempt to have one seal used consistently throughout Louisiana government.

The state flag was adopted by the Louisiana Legislature in 1912 and features a pelican feeding her young on a blue background.

The Louisiana state bird is the Eastern Brown Pelican.  Found from South Carolina all the way to Brazil, it is famous for its large bill.

Because of the large number of Magnolia trees found in Louisiana, the Louisiana Legislature decided in 1900 to make its white blossom the Louisiana state flower.

Also known as "sac-a-lait," the white perch is Louisiana's state freshwater fish.

With small eyes and thick black fur, the state mammal, the black bear, can be found in swamps, coastal marches and sugarcane fields near the Atchafalaya Basin.

Louisiana did not have a state tree until 1963.  Of the many varieties of trees found in our state, the Louisiana Legislature chose the bald cypress to be our state tree.

In 1979, the only dog native to Louisiana became our state dog, the Catahoula Leopard Dog.   A cross between a dog raised by Indians of the Catahoula Lake region and a Spanish "war dog," it is well known for its unusual eyes and webbed feet.

Called "crawdads" and "mudbugs" in other parts of the United States, the crawfish is Louisiana's state crustacean.

If you go to the lowlands and waters of Louisiana you might bump into the state's reptile, the alligator.  Grown males can weigh up to 550 pounds and grow to 12 feet in length.

Known the world over for its unique musical heritage, Louisiana is one of the only states with two state songs:  Give Me Louisiana and You Are My Sunshine.