The Great Seal of the State of Minnesota is the insignia that the secretary of state affixes to government papers and documents to make them official.  A seal for the territory of Minnesota was adopted in 1849 and approved by Governor Ramsey and the territorial legislature.  When Minnesota became a state on May 11, 1858, there was no official state seal and, according to law, no official act could be undertaken without it.  The territorial seal was used as a state seal until Governor Sibley started using a new design.  When the legislature did not approve Governor Sibley’s design, he made some changes, including changing the original Latin motto to French, Étoile du Nord, thereby making Minnesota the North Star State.  In 1861 the legislature adopted the new design, making it the official state seal.  In 1983, the legislature altered the seal further.  [Note on private use of the state seal, from an attorney general’s interpretation of Minnesota Statutes: “Private individuals can reproduce the state seal for their own purposes… the private enlargement, reduction, or embossment of the seal by private citizens is not prohibited.  There are a number of consumer protection statutes that could conceivably prohibit the use of the state seal if it is used to misrepresent the nature of a business, or if a person in the course of his business, vocation, or occupation engages in any conduct that creates a likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding...]” 

Minnesota Statutes 1998, Table of Chapters - 1.135 State seal

Use of the State Seal

Downloadable State Seal.JPG (CMYK,1.16mb). Use right click then "Save Target as" to Download