State Seal of Oregon
The seal of the state of Oregon was designed in 1857 by Harvey Gordon. It was preceded by the seal of the provisional government also known as the ”Salmon Seal” which was used from 1843 until the creation of the Oregon Territory in 1849.
The present-day seal features a shield surrounded by 33 stars, as Oregon was the 33rd state to join the Union. Inside the shield, the forests and mountains of Oregon are depicted along with the Pacific Ocean. One of the two ships is an American merchant arriving in Oregon while the other is a departing British warship symbolizing the British departure from America.