''L'Étoile du Nord'' is a
French phrase meaning "The Star of the North". It is the
motto of the
U.S. state of
Minnesota
Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...
, and the only U.S. state motto in French. It was chosen by the state's first governor,
Henry Hastings Sibley, and adopted in 1861, three years after Minnesota's admission to the union.
The land that became Minnesota was the northernmost section in the
Northwest Territory
The Northwest Territory, also known as the Old Northwest and formally known as the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, was formed from part of the unorganized western territory of the United States after the American Revolution. Established ...
, and Minnesota is the northernmost state in the contiguous United States. Because of this motto, one of Minnesota's nicknames is ''The North Star State''. The
Minnesota North Stars ice hockey team chose the English translation for their name.
In the northern hemisphere, the North Star (
Polaris) is a part of the tip of the handle and the brightest star of the constellation Ursa Minor (known also as Little Bear and as the Little Dipper). Ursa Minor has traditionally been important for navigation, because Polaris is the star closest to the North Celestial Pole.
Examples at the Minnesota State Capitol
The motto and eight-pointed star can be seen throughout the state capitol.
File:Etoile du Nord Minnesota State Capitol.jpg, The brass and translucent glass eight-pointed star symbolizing Minnesota's motto, "L’Étoile du Nord" (The Star of the North)
File:Rotunda floor of the Minnesota State Capitol showing 8-pointed star.jpg, Rotunda floor showing 8-pointed star symbolizing Minnesota's motto, "L’Étoile du Nord" (The Star of the North)
File:Seal of Minnesota (1861–1983).jpg, Minnesota's state motto, L'Étoile du Nord, from an 1879 rendering of the state's official seal.
File:Stencil-L Etoile Du Nord-01.jpg, Stencil at the Minnesota State Capitol
File:Mural-The Great Seal of the State of Minnesota.jpg, Mural of the Great Seal of the State of Minnesota in the MN House of Representatives.
File:Railing-L Etoile Du Nord.jpg, Motto on iron railing at the MN Capitol.
File:L'Étoile du Nord 1st Minnesota Infantry Monument; Gettysburg PA.jpg, L'Étoile du Nord at the 1st Minnesota Infantry Monument; Gettysburg PA
Examples at the Minnesota History Center
The eight-pointed star can be seen in the ceiling of the Great Hall and throughout the building. Each pair of points represents the letter M for Minnesota.
File:Minnesota History Center rotunda dome.jpg, North star motif in wooden cross beams in ceiling.
File:Minnesota History Center rotunda dome-1st floor.jpg, North star motif in ceiling and floor.
File:Minnesota History Center rotunda-2nd floor.jpg, North star motif as seen on floor.
See also
*
List of place names of French origin in the United States
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Etoile du Nord, L'
French words and phrases
State mottos of the United States
Symbols of Minnesota
1861 establishments in Minnesota