1997 Texas Capitol Ornament

1997 Capitol Ornament — The State Seal of Texas

This is the 1997 Texas Capitol Ornament, the second edition in a series spanning more than 30 years of Texas history. It features the Lone Star at the center of the Texas State Seal.

In days when communications were transcribed by hand and tediously undertaken, seals served to authenticate official government documents. In this day of computers and instant communications, seals still serve the same purpose.

Since revolutionary times, Texas has chosen the Lone Star as its symbol. On March 12, 1836, ten days after Texas declared independence from Mexico, the general convention of the Texas Provisional government adopted a resolution for "a single star of 5 points, either gold or silver" as the "peculiar ribbon" of the Republic.

President Sam Houston signed an act, passed in 1836 by the First Congress, which detailed the national seal as a single star with the words "Republic of Texas" in a circle on a circular shaped image. The seal had a varied career following its official use. Prior to the War Between the States, it was reportedly found on a farm in Fayette County and used as a handy tool to drive back tacks in boots as well as a pecan cracker. Later, it was presented as a gift to a lady collector in Menard County. Finally, one hundred years after its origin, the seal won first prize as most interesting historical exhibit at the Texas Centennial celebration.

In 1839, the Third Congress modified the seal creating a national arms declared to be a white star of five points, on azure ground, encircled by olive and live oak branches bearing the words "Republic of Texas." Later that year, artist Peter Krag was paid $8.00 for the first known drawing of the Texas seal.

No one knows who first suggested the addition of olive and live oak branches, but the Mexican national seal, which also contains wreaths of olive and oak, was the likely source. The star was emblematic of the Republic, the olive branch of peace, and the live oak, indigenous to Texas, of strength and fertility. Upon joining the Union in 1845, the new Texas Constitution retained the seal, changing only the word "Republic" to "State," which is the same as it is today.

Before 1993, the state seal was referred to in some laws as the "Great Seal of Texas." Disagreement existed because the constitution uses the terms "Seal of State" and "State seal," and because the Texas Supreme Court in 1846 defined the term "great seal" to mean the seal of a nation, as opposed to a state seal. So, the Seventy-Third Legislature amended those laws that used the term "Great Seal of Texas" to the term "state seal." It seems likely, however, that Texans will continue to regard their seal as a great seal regardless of its name.

Supplies of this ornament are extremely limited. Once they are sold out, they will be unavailable forever more. We are are releasing the final stock of these original ornaments from our archive in response to consumer requests. Sales from this exclusive ornament support the ongoing preservation and interpretation of the Texas Capitol as well as exhibitions and educational programming at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. Collect this commemorative piece of Texas history and help the statehouse maintain its beauty for generations to come.