A BALD EAGLE PERCHED HIGH ATOP A TREE OVERLOOKING PIASA HARBOR BETWEEN ALTON AND ELSAH, ILLINOIS
EAGLE FACT(S)
IN 1787, THE AMERICAN BALD EAGLE WAS OFFICIALLY ADOPTED AS THE EMBLEM OF THE UNITED STATES. THIS HAPPENED ONLY AFTER MANY STATES HAD ALREADY USED THE EAGLE IN THEIR COAT OF ARMS, AS NEW YORK STATE DID IN 1778. ALTHOUGH THE OFFICIAL SEAL HAS UNDERGONE SOME MODIFICATIONS IN THE LAST 200 YEARS, THE BASIC DESIGN IS THE SAME.