MONTANA

State of Montana

ORIGIN OF STATE NAME: Derived from the Latin word meaning "mountainous." NICKNAME: The Treasure State. CAPITAL: Helena. ENTERED UNION: 8 November 1889 (41st). SONG: "Montana." BALLAD: "Montana Melody." MOTTO: Oro y Plata (Gold and silver). FLAG: A blue field, fringed in gold on the top and bottom borders, surround the state coat of arms, with "Montana" in gold letters above the coat of arms. OFFICIAL SEAL: In the lower center are a plow and a miner's pick and shovel; mountains appear above them on the left, the Great Falls of the Missouri River on the right, and a state motto on a banner below. The words "The Great Seal of the State of Montana" surround the whole. ANIMAL: Grizzly bear. BIRD: Western meadowlark. FISH: Black-spotted (cutthroat) trout. FLOWER: Bitterroot. TREE: Ponderosa pine. GRASS: Bluebunch wheatgrass. GEMS: Yogo sapphire; Montana agate. FOSSIL: Duck-billed dinosaur. LEGAL HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., 3rd Monday in January; Lincoln's Birthday, 12 February; Washington's Birthday, 3rd Monday in February; Memorial Day, last Monday in May; Independence Day, 4 July; Labor Day, 1st Monday in September; Columbus Day, 2nd Monday in October; State Election Day, 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November in even-numbered years; Veterans Day, 11 November; Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in November; Christmas Day, 25 December. TIME: 5 AM MST = noon GMT.