State Flower:

Syringa

State Bird:

Mountain Bluebird

State Tree:

Western White Pine

State Flag:

Idaho's State seal dominates the design of its flag. It shows the state's most important industries of forestry, farming and mining. The cornucopias symbolize abundance, the elk's head represents wildlife, the women represent liberty, justice and equality, and the man is a miner. Above the elk's head is the State motto, "Esto perpetua" which is Latin for "It is forever."

Famous Person:

Ezra Pound

Born in Hailey on October 30, 1885, Ezra Pound was one of the many American writers who emigrated to Europe in the early part of the 20th century. He was brilliant, erratic, and bitter against his homeland, referring to America as, "an old bitch civilization, gone in the teeth." With empty pockets and a parcel of poems he sailed to Venice in 1908 where he didn't bother trying to sell his poems; instead publishing his first book of poems himself. From there, his success took off. He joined a literary circle in England and had six more books published before he married and left England for France in 1917. In 1924 he moved to Italy again and continued publishing his poetry while also becoming an avid researcher in economic history. He was convinced that all wars were caused by international bankers and became an admirer of the Italian fascist Mussolini. From 1941-1943 he openly condemned the US government's involvement in the war and was subsequently tried for treason. He was pronounced insane and institutionalized for 12 years. While in the mental hospital, he continued to publish poetry and won the Bolligen Prize for poetry in 1958. Charges against him were dropped in 1958 and he returned to Italy. He died in Venice in 1972 leaving a legacy of 70 books and 1500 articles. In addition to his own work, he collaborated on 70 other books and also helped launch the careers of T.S. Eliot, D.H. Lawrence and Robert Frost.