{{short description|Official government emblem of the U.S. state of Montana}}
{{short description|Official government emblem of the U.S. state of Montana}}
{{Copy edit|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox Coat of arms
{{Infobox Coat of arms
|name = Great Seal of the State of Montana
|name = Great Seal of the State of Montana
}}
}}
The ”’Great Seal of the [[State of Montana]]”’ was adopted in 1865, when Montana was a United States Territory. When it became a state in 1889, it decided to use the same seal. In 1891, proposals were made to make changes or adopt a brand new seal, but none of these proposals passed the Legislature. The outer ring of the seal contains the text “The Great Seal of the State of Montana”. The inner circle depicts a landscape of mountains, plains and forests by the [[Great Falls (Missouri River)|Great Falls]] on the [[Missouri River]]. A plow, a pick and a shovel are depicted on the front, representing the state’s agricultural and mining industries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.his.state.mt.us/education/studentguide/Symbols.asp|title=Symbols of Montana|publisher=[[Montana Historical Society]]|access-date=24 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828235844/http://www.his.state.mt.us/education/studentguide/Symbols.asp|archive-date=28 August 2010}}</ref> The banner at the bottom of the seal reads the territorial motto of ”Oro y Plata”, meaning “Gold and Silver” in Spanish. Montana also has many popular unofficial mottos including “The last best Place” and “Big Sky Country” <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/mt_motto.htm|title=Montana State Motto|publisher=NSTATE, LLC.|access-date=24 September 2010}}</ref>
The ”’Great Seal of the State of Montana”’ was adopted in 1865, when [[]] a [[ ]]. Montana has many popular unofficial mottos including “The last best Place” and “Big Sky Country” <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/mt_motto.htm|= |publisher=NSTATE, LLC.}}</ref>
== History ==
When Montana became a state in 1889, it kept the same seal. In 1891, proposals were made to change or switch to a new seal, but these proposals did not pass the Legislature.
== Description ==
The outer ring contains the text “The Great Seal of the State of Montana”. The inner circle depicts a landscape of mountains, plains and forests by [[Great Falls (Missouri River)|Great Falls]] on the [[Missouri River]]. A plow, a pick and a shovel are depicted on the front, representing the state’s agricultural and mining industries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.his.state.mt.us/education/studentguide/Symbols.asp|title=Symbols of Montana|publisher=[[Montana Historical Society]]|access-date=24 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828235844/http://www.his.state.mt.us/education/studentguide/Symbols.asp|archive-date=28 August 2010}}</ref> The banner at the bottom presents the territorial motto of ”Oro y Plata”, (Gold and Silver).
==External links==
==External links==
Official government emblem of the U.S. state of Montana
The Great Seal of the State of Montana was adopted in 1865, when Montana was a United States Territory. Montana has many popular unofficial mottos including “The last best Place” and “Big Sky Country” [1]
When Montana became a state in 1889, it kept the same seal. In 1891, proposals were made to change or switch to a new seal, but these proposals did not pass the Legislature.
The outer ring contains the text “The Great Seal of the State of Montana”. The inner circle depicts a landscape of mountains, plains and forests by Great Falls on the Missouri River. A plow, a pick and a shovel are depicted on the front, representing the state’s agricultural and mining industries.[2] The banner at the bottom presents the territorial motto of Oro y Plata, (Gold and Silver).
