This Is Oregon State
By: Zachary Lewis
Oregon state outline
• Here is some of
the lay outs of
Oregon state. the
one on the top
shows the cities.
The one on the
bottom it shows
the lakes and
rivers in Oregon.
Oregon State Flag
• The flag of Oregon is the only state flag with different
pictures on each side. On the reverse appears a beaver
the state animal. Both sides have a field of navy blue with
design in gold. The front picture includes a heart shaped
shield with an eagle on top, surrounded by thirty-three
stars. ( The number of states in 1859. ) The scene on the
shield shows the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean,
mountains, forests and a covered wagon. A plow, wheat
and pickax represent farming and mining. Of the two
ships: The one leaving is a British ship and the one
arriving is a United States ship representing trade. The
eagle represents the United States. On a banner are the
words "The Union" representing support for the United
States. Finally the flag is emblazoned with the words
"State of Oregon" above the picture and the date of
statehood "1859" below.
•
Oregon state nickname
and motto
"She Flies With Her Own Wings" (Allis Volta
Propels) became the official state motto of
Oregon in 1987, replacing "The Union"
(adopted in 1957).
•
The nickname for Oregon is The Beaver
State, originating in the early 19th
century when fur hats were fashionable
and Oregon’s streams were an
important source of beaver pelts. The
trapping routes used by early "mountain
men" later became known as The
Oregon Trail, traveled by thousands of
pioneers in the 1840's. The beaver is
also Oregon's official state animal and
appears on the state flag.
The American Beaver (Castor
Canadensis) was named Oregon state
animal by the 1969 Legislature. Prized
for its fur, the beaver was over trapped
by early settlers and eliminated from
much of its original range. Through
proper management and partial
protection, the beaver has been
reestablished in watercourses
throughout the state and remains an
important economic asset. The beaver
has been referred to as "nature's
engineer," and its dam-building
activities are important to natural
water flow and erosion control. Oregon
is known as the “Beaver State” and
Oregon State University's athletic
teams are called the "Beavers."
• A low growing plant, the
Oregon Grape is native to
much of the Pacific Coast and
found sparsely east of the
Cascades. Its year-round
foliage of pinnate, waxy
green leaves resembles holly.
The plant bears dainty yellow
flowers in early summer and
a dark blue berry that ripens
late in the fall. The fruit can
be used in cooking.