The state of Georgia has numerous symbols, as defined in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated or by joint resolutions of the Georgia General Assembly. The oldest symbol is the Great Seal of Georgia, designated by the Constitution of Georgia in 1798. The most recently designated symbol is the Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby, added in 2024.
Insignia
+Overview of insignias of GeorgiaTypeSymbolYearImageFlagFlag of Georgia2003Motto"Wisdom, Justice, Moderation"1799The three words, "Wisdom", "Justice", and "Moderation", were in the definition of the state seal, but were never formally adopted independent of the seal.SealGreat Seal of Georgia1798 (1914)The state seal was defined by the Georgia Constitution of 1798 and bore the date 1799. In 1914, the date was changed to 1776.CreedGeorgian's Creed1939Song"Georgia on My Mind"lyrics by Stuart Gorrell and music by Hoagy Carmichael with words by Robert LovemanThe previous state song "Georgia" was composed by Lollie Belle Wylie.1979
Plants +Overview of plant symbols of GeorgiaTypeSymbolYearImageCropPeanut1995FlowerSweetbay Magnoliamagnolia virginiana2026 FruitPeach1995GrapeMuscadine grape2021NutPecan2021TreeSouthern live oakQuercus virginiana1937VegetableVidalia sweet onion1990WildflowerAzaleaRhododendron sp.1979
Animals +Overview of animal symbols of GeorgiaTypeSymbolYearImageAmphibianAmerican green tree frogHyla cinerea2005BirdBrown thrasherToxostoma rufum1935 (1970)The inititial designation was by gubernatorial proclamation.ButterflyEastern tiger swallowtailPapilio glaucus1988Cold water game fishSouthern Appalachian brook troutSalvelinus fontinalis2006CrustaceanWhite shrimp2024Dog"Adoptable dog"2016FishLargemouth bass1970Game birdBobwhite quail1970InsectHoneybee1975MammalWhite-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus2015Marine mammalNorth Atlantic right whaleEubalaena glacialis1985ReptileGopher tortoiseGopherus polyphemus1989Riverine sport fishShoal bass Micropterus cataractae2020Salt-water fishRed drumSciaenops ocellatus2006
Geology +Overview of geological symbols of GeorgiaTypeSymbolYearImageFossilShark tooth1976GemQuartz1976MineralStaurolite1976SeashellKnobbed whelkBusycon carica1987
Culture +Overview of cultural symbols of GeorgiaTypeSymbolYearImageArt museumGeorgia Museum of Art1982AtlasThe Atlas of Georgia1985Ballet companyAtlanta Ballet1973Beef barbecue championship Cook-offThe Hawkinsville Civitan Club's "Shoot the Bull" barbecue championship1997Botanical gardenState Botanical Garden of Georgia1984Center for character educationNational Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force2005First Mural CityColquitt2006Folk danceSquare dance1996Folk festivalGeorgia Folk Festival1992Folk life playSwamp Gravy1994Frontier and southeastern Indian interpretive centerFunk Heritage Center2003Historic dramaThe Reach of Song, a play about mountain writer Byron Herbert Reece1990Historical civil rights museumRalph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum2008Musical theaterJekyll Island Musical Theatre Festival1993Peanut monumentTurner Countyon the west side of Interstate Highway 75 within the limits of the city of Ashburn1998Poet LaureatePoet Laureate of Georgia1925Pork cook-offThe Dooly County Chamber of Commerce's "Slosheye Trail Big Pig Jig"1997'PossumPogo 'Possum1992Prepared foodGrits2002Railroad museumThe Central of Georgia Railroad Shops Complex Savannah1996SchoolPlains High School, now part of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site1997Soap Box DerbySoutheast Georgia Soap Box Derby2024TartanGeorgia Tartan1997TheaterSpringer Opera HouseColumbus1971–2 (1992)As governor, Jimmy Carter made it the state theater for the 1971–1972 season. In 1992, the legislature made the designation formal and ongoing.Transportation history museumSoutheastern Railway Museum2000Waltz"Our Georgia"1951
Notes
References
External links State Symbols page from the Georgia Secretary of State State Symbols page from the Digital Library of Georgia