Seal of Minnesota

Great Seal of the State of Minnesota
Versions
Historical coat of arms (illustrated, 1876)
Armiger	State of Minnesota
Adopted	May 10, 1983[1]
Motto	L'Étoile du Nord (English: The Star of the North)

The Great Seal of the State of Minnesota is the state seal of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Originally adopted in 1858 following Minnesota's statehood, the seal's original version is an adaptation of Minnesota's territorial seal modified by the state's first governor and fur trader, Henry Hastings Sibley. It has been modified several times by the state legislature since 1858, including in 1971 and 1983.^[2] The seal's design symbolizes many important aspects to Minnesota's history and culture; such as the growth of industry powered by Saint Anthony Falls, the state's Native American heritage, the importance of industries like lumber and agriculture, and the taming of the wilderness by the state's early pioneers. The seal is prominently featured on the Minnesotan flag.

The seal and the flag have drawn criticism, particularly from Indigenous groups, for its depiction of the relations between White settlers and Native Americans. In response to these concerns, in May 2023, the Minnesota Legislature created the State Emblems Redesign Commission to change both the seal and the state flag.^[3] On December 5, it unanimously chose a design by Ross Bruggink that features a loon, Minnesota's state bird, and the North Star, and is themed around Minnesota's nature.^[4] The new seal will replace the current one on Statehood Day (May 11) in 2024.