Oregon State Symbols

Oregon state symbols: official state symbols include the beaver, Douglas fir, Oregon grape, western meadowlark, two-sided flag, and Beaver State nickname.

Abbreviation

Salem

Capital

1859

Statehood

Symbols

Overview

Oregon's two-sided flag is one of the most distinctive official state symbols in the country — the only U.S. state flag with a different design on each side. The beaver, Douglas fir, Oregon grape, western meadowlark, and Alis Volat Propriis motto complete a Beaver State list tied to fur-trade history, forests, and Pacific Northwest self-reliance.

Best-known symbol Beaver

Oldest in this guide Oregon Grape, 1899

Two-sided flag Oregon State Flag

Oregon State Symbols — Complete List

Category	Official Symbol	Adopted
State Flag	Oregon State Flag	1925
State Bird	Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta	1927
State Flower	Oregon Grape Mahonia aquifolium	1899
State Tree	Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii	1939
State Motto	Alis Volat Propriis Latin	1987
State Nickname	The Beaver State	—
State Animal	Beaver Castor canadensis	1969
State Beverage	Milk	1997
State Colors	Navy Blue and Gold	1959
License Plate Slogan	Pacific Wonderland	1959
State Seal	Great Seal of Oregon	1859

What Does Oregon Mean?

Oregon joined the United States in 1859 as the 33rd state. The origin of the name Oregon is debated, with explanations tied to older maps, Indigenous languages, French usage, or Spanish references.

The uncertainty around the name contrasts with the clarity of the symbols. Beaver, Douglas fir, Oregon grape, and the two-sided flag make the state feel forested, riverine, and Pacific-facing.

Oregon's postal abbreviation is OR, and residents are Oregonians. The Beaver State nickname matches both the animal page and the reverse side of the state flag.

Key Meaning and Background

Origin: The origin of Oregon is debated, with no single explanation universally accepted.
Statehood: Oregon became the 33rd state in 1859.
Motto: Alis Volat Propriis means She Flies With Her Own Wings.

Usage Examples and Context

State: Refers to Oregon, a Pacific Northwest state with coast, mountains, forests, high desert, and river valleys.
Territory: Oregon also recalls the larger Oregon Country and Oregon Territory of the nineteenth century.
People: People from Oregon are called Oregonians.

Nicknames and Short Forms

The Beaver State: Oregon's dominant nickname, tied to fur-trade history and the official state animal.
Pacific Northwest: Oregon is one of the core states of the Pacific Northwest.
Abbreviation: OR; older short form Ore.

Newest and Oldest Symbols

Oldest listed Great Seal of Oregon, 1859

Older symbols tend to anchor the state's public identity: flag, bird, flower, motto, or nickname.

Newest listed Milk (1997), Alis Volat Propriis (1987)

Recent designations often show how states keep adding wildlife, foods, breeds, and cultural traditions.

What Oregon's Symbols Say About the State

Oregon's beaver is not a side detail. It connects the Beaver State nickname to fur-trade history and to the reverse of the state flag.

The Douglas fir and Oregon grape make the hub feel native to the Pacific Northwest instead of interchangeable with other western states.

The motto Alis Volat Propriis gives Oregon a self-governing tone, while the two-sided flag gives it one of the most unusual state-flag stories in the country.