Hello, welcome to good ole West Virginia, the state I call home. I have lived in West Virginia all my life. Most my family grew up in these parts.
West Virginia's State Flag
West Virginia's flag displays a rock containing the date June 20, 1863, the
day West Virginia became a state. The two men represent farming and mining. Below them are two rifles with a
"Liberty Cap" on top the rifles. A banner ribbon includes the state motto
" Mountainiers Are Always Free".
Around the picture are a wreath of rhododendren and the name of the state on a red ribbon.
Was built in 1932 and designed by Cass Gilbert the cost to build was over 9 Million.
For a small state, West Virginia has quite a
nice capitol complex. Unfortunately, like
many states, it is an oasis surrounded by
urban decay. This is actually the sixth capitol
building in West Virginia's history. Two
burned down. One of those was has
spectators running for their lives because the
state police stored ammunition and machine
guns on the top floor, which went off in the
fire. It took seven hundred train cars full of
limestone to construct the outside walls of
the current building. The interior is made of
Vermont and Tennessee marble.
Mountaineers Are Always Free
West Virginia's state motto comes from the Latin phrase: Montani Semper Liberi which means "Mountaineers are
always free". It was proposed by Joseph H. DisDebar who also designed the state seal. The motto is found at the
bottom of the state seal.
West Virginia's State Flower ~ Rhododendron
With the
recommendation of the Governor and a vote by public
school pupils, the Legislature adopted House Joint
Resolution 19 on January 29, 1903, naming the
Rhododendron the official state flower.
West Virginia's State Tree ~ Sugar Maple
The adoption
of House Concurrent Resolution 12 on March 7, 1949,
authorized a vote by public school students and civic
organizations to name the Sugar Maple as the official
state tree.
West Virginia's State Bird ~ Cardinal
The cardinal was
named the state's official state bird with the adoption of
House Resolution 12 on March 7, 1949, which
authorized pupils from public schools and civic
organizations to name the bird.
West Virginia's State Bear ~ Black Bear
Was selected as West Virginia's official State Animal by a
poll of students, teachers and sportsmen conducted by
the Division of Natural Resources in 1954-1955. It was
officially adopted by the Legislature during the 1973
Regular Session with the approval of House Concurrent
Resolution 6.
West Virginia's State Butterfly ~Monarch Butterfly
Was adopted as West Virginia's State Butterfly March 1st, 1995
I have found some excellent links of West Virginia to share with you, please take a look at our beautiful state.