The Seal below is carved into a block of limestone and located in our Arboretum
State Seal – established in 1816. The outer ring of the state seal contains the date 1816, when Indiana became the 19th state in the union, with a leaf of the Tulip tree on each side with two diamonds, and the words: "SEAL OF THE STATE OF INDIANA". The inner circle depicts a woodsman felling a sycamore tree, a buffalo, two sycamore trees, and hills in the background with a nearly full sun setting. The hills depicted are hills west of Vincennes. The buffalo represents Indiana’s rich natural resources.
The seal symbolizes westward expansion, with the setting sun representing Indiana’s statehood, considered a foothold in the west. Versions of this pioneer scene have been used on Indiana seals since territorial days and are found on official papers as early as 1801. Between 1816 and 1963 there were over 200 variations of the seal. In 1963, the legislature finalized the design as it now appears.