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Six Seals
of Texas |
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Texas State
Capitol Dome |
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Kingdom of Spain |
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| 1519-1685; 1690-1821 |
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| The Spanish
seal, representing the first of six nations governing Texas,
appears in three places on the Lorenzo de Zavala State
Archives and Library Building, the Texas State Library and
Archives Commission’s headquarters. The front exterior seal
is glass mosaic; the rear exterior seal is terra-cotta. It
also repeats on the three bronze entry doors. The seal
features symbols of castles and lions representing the union
of two Spanish kingdoms, Leon and Castile. Spanish explorers
arrived in what is now called Texas in 1519. (Seal history
courtesy of the Texas State Capitol) |
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Kingdom of France |
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| 1685-1690 |
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The French seal, representing the
second of six nations governing Texas, appears in
three places on the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives
and Library Building, the Texas State Library and
Archives Commission’s headquarters. The front
exterior seal is glass mosaic; the rear exterior
seal is terra-cotta. It also repeats on the three
bronze entry doors. The seal features the ancient
fleur-de-lis symbol of the Bourbon Kings. France
established a colony at Matagorda Bay in 1685, but
ultimately abandoned its settlement efforts in Texas
and later established colonies in what became
Louisiana, where they were much more successful.
(Seal history courtesy of the Texas State Capitol) |
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United Mexican States |
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| 1821-1836 |
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| The Mexican seal,
representing the third of six nations governing Texas,
appears in three places on the Lorenzo de Zavala State
Archives and Library Building, the Texas State Library and
Archives Commission’s headquarters. The front exterior seal
is glass mosaic; the rear exterior seal is terra-cotta. It
also repeats on the three bronze entry doors. The seal
depicts an Aztec legend concerning the location of a future
capital. Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821
and formed a new republic that included Texas. (Seal history
courtesy of the Texas State Capitol) |
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| Mosaic in
Capitol Rotunda |
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| Republic Of
Texas |
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| 1836-1845 |
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| The seal of the Republic of
Texas, representing Texas’ brief period as a sovereign
nation, appears in four places on the Lorenzo de Zavala
State Archives and Library Building, the Texas State Library
and Archives Commission’s headquarters. The front exterior
seal is glass mosaic; the rear exterior seal is terra-cotta.
It also repeats on the three bronze entry doors and is
inlaid into the lobby’s terrazzo floor. It contains a lone
star encircled by traditional symbols of strength (a live
oak branch) and peace (an olive branch). Texas won its
independence from Mexico in 1836. The origin of its Lone
Star State nickname is unknown. (Seal history courtesy
of the Texas State Capitol) |
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| Confederate States of America |
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| 1861-1865 |
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| The Confederate seal,
representing the sixth nation governing Texas during its
history, appears in three places on the Lorenzo de Zavala
State Archives and Library Building, the Texas State Library
and Archives Commission’s headquarters. The front exterior
seal is glass mosaic; the rear exterior seal is terra-cotta.
It also repeats on the three bronze entry doors. The seal
features George Washington on horseback, encircled by the
cash crops of the south: corn, cotton, wheat and tobacco. On
Feb. 23, 1861, Texas became one of the 11 southern states
that seceded from the Union to form the Confederacy. Though
the Civil War ended in April of 1865, Texas was not
readmitted to the Union until March of 1870. |
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| United States of America |
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| 1845-1861; 1865-Present |
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| The United States seal,
representing the fifth of six nations governing Texas,
appears in three places on the Lorenzo de Zavala State
Archives and Library Building, the Texas State Library and
Archives Commission’s headquarters. The front exterior seal
is glass mosaic; the rear exterior seal is terra-cotta. It
also repeats on the three bronze entry doors. It
commemorates the 13 original states, with 13 stripes, 13
stars, 13 arrows and 13 leaves on the olive branch. Texas
was an independent republic from 1836 to 1846, and is the
only independent republic that became a part of the United
States. (Seal history courtesy of the Texas State
Capitol) |
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| View of Texas Capitol |
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