Discover the Louisiana State Seal: History, Symbolism, and Meaning

Written by Colby Maxwell
Updated: May 8, 2023
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Louisiana is a state with a rich and diverse history and culture. One of the ways to learn more about Louisiana is to look at its state seal. Today, we are going to explore the history, symbolism, and meaning of the Louisiana State Seal, plus a little more! Let’s get started.

Louisiana State Seal: A Summary

New Orleans Court Building, Louisiana 2018

The state seal of Louisiana dates back to 1812 when it became a state, but many of the symbols predate its inclusion in the Union.

©clayton harrison/Shutterstock.com

The Louisiana State Seal is a picture that shows what Louisiana stands for. It has a brown pelican, the state bird, displayed as hurting itself to feed its babies. The (somewhat strange) symbolism intends to show that Louisiana cares for its people and is willing to sacrifice for its people. The seal also has the words “Union, Justice, Confidence,” which forms the foundation for the values that Louisiana holds. The seal was made in 1902, but it goes back to 1812 when Louisiana became a state.

Let’s explore some of the history of the seal, plus learn more about its symbolism and meaning.

The History of the Louisiana State Seal: A Timeline

1803-1812

The Louisiana State Seal began as a seal for the Territory of Orleans. This was part of the land that the United States bought from France in 1803. The first seal had an eagle and a wreath.

1812

When Louisiana became a state in 1812, it changed its seal to a pelican and its babies. The pelican is a special bird that shows how much Louisiana cares for its people. It hurts itself to feed its young with its own blood. The seal also has the words “Union, Justice and Confidence”, which are the things that Louisiana stands for.

1861-1865

During the Civil War, Louisiana left the Union and used a different seal for a while. It had a pelican and a star. But after the war, it came back and changed the words to show that it was loyal to the Union again.

1902

In 1902, the state made the seal official and kept it the same until 2006. It had the current design and wording.

2006

That’s when a student noticed that the pelican didn’t have any blood on its chest. He told his lawmaker, and they passed a law to fix it. Now the seal has three drops of blood to show the pelican’s sacrifice.

Symbolism Within the Louisiana State Seal

The flag of Louisiana features a blue background (field) with the state seal: a pelican and its young in a nest above a ribbon with the state motto, “Union Justice Confidence.”

©iStock.com/gladder

The Louisiana State Seal has a lot of meaning displayed through the various symbols included within its design. Let’s take a look at the most prominent ones.

The most prominent symbol displayed is a brown pelican, the state bird, feeding its young (three small chicks) with its own blood. The history of the pelican feeding its young through harming itself is an ancient icon that has roots that date all the way back to its heritage of Christian charity and sacrifice. Namely, because the pelican is willing to give up its life for its children, just as Jesus did. Although that original connection still exists, the symbol itself can still be understood secularly. The pelican also represents the people of Louisiana, who are loyal, generous, and resilient.

The seal also has the words “Union, Justice, Confidence,” which together make up the state motto. These words express the values and beliefs of Louisiana and are a clear statement of what they stand for. The seal also has a blue background, which also happens to be the color of the state flag.

Louisiana Before It Was a State

Louisiana’s symbolism goes back well before it was ever an official state of the Union. To this day, its culture and iconography are influenced by the French and Spanish colonials who left their marks on the region.

Louisiana also had different flags and seals to represent its identity and values. Before 1812, when Louisiana became a state, it was part of the Territory of Orleans. The first seal of the territory had an eagle and a laurel wreath, which were symbols of the United States. During the French and Spanish colonial periods, Louisiana also used the flags and coats of arms of those countries.

During the Civil War, Louisiana seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy. It used a different flag and seal with a star, showing its loyalty to the South. After the war, Louisiana rejoined the Union and restored its original seal, with the pelican feeding its young.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © clayton harrison/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Colby is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering outdoors, unique animal stories, and science news. Colby has been writing about science news and animals for five years and holds a bachelor's degree from SEU. A resident of NYC, you can find him camping, exploring, and telling everyone about what birds he saw at his local birdfeeder.

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