West Virginia State Motto: Montani Semper Liberi
Fact-checked • Updated December 5, 2025
OFFICIAL STATE SEAL
"Montani Semper Liberi"
Mountaineers Are Always Free
About This Motto
The West Virginia state motto is Montani Semper Liberi, a Latin phrase meaning Mountaineers Are Always Free. The state legislature adopted this motto on September 26, 1863, just three months after West Virginia became the 42nd state. Artist Joseph H. Diss Debar suggested the phrase when he designed the Great Seal. The motto appears on the state seal, coat of arms, and state flag. West Virginia's constitution officially recognized Montani Semper Liberi in 1872.
What the Motto Means
Montani Semper Liberi translates directly as Mountaineers Are Always Free. The phrase comes from Latin. Montani means mountaineers or mountain people. Semper means always. Liberi means free.
Swiss mountaineers used this phrase for generations before West Virginia adopted it. They spoke these words to express their independent spirit and love of freedom. The rugged mountain terrain shaped their culture and values. When Joseph H. Diss Debar suggested the motto in 1863, he drew on his Swiss heritage. He founded a German-Swiss immigrant colony in Doddridge County.
The motto captured West Virginia's story perfectly. The state broke away from Virginia during the Civil War to join the Union. Mountain residents refused to follow Virginia into the Confederacy. They valued freedom and chose their own path.
Historical Background
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1863 - West Virginia Becomes a State
West Virginia became the 42nd state on June 20, 1863. The state formed when 50 western counties of Virginia refused to secede from the Union. Mountain residents held different values than eastern Virginians. They owned few slaves and opposed secession. President Abraham Lincoln admitted West Virginia to the Union during the Civil War.
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September 26, 1863 - Motto Adopted
The first West Virginia Legislature met in Wheeling shortly after statehood. On September 26, 1863, they appointed Joseph H. Diss Debar to design the Great Seal. Diss Debar submitted detailed drawings with explanations for each element. He suggested the Latin motto Montani Semper Liberi. The legislature adopted both the seal and motto that same day.
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1872 - Constitutional Recognition
West Virginia's constitution officially recognized the motto in 1872. The document states: The present seal of the state, with its motto Montani Semper Liberi, shall be the great seal of the State of West Virginia. This constitutional provision gave the motto permanent legal status.
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1929 - Appears on State Flag
West Virginia adopted its current state flag on March 7, 1929. The flag displays the state coat of arms on a white field bordered in blue. The motto Montani Semper Liberi appears on a red ribbon below the coat of arms. Above the arms, another ribbon reads State of West Virginia. Rhododendron flowers wreath the lower portion.
Where You See It Today
The motto appears prominently on West Virginia's Great Seal and coat of arms. The seal shows a farmer and miner standing beside a boulder inscribed with June 20, 1863. Two crossed rifles rest below with a Phrygian cap of liberty. The motto Montani Semper Liberi appears on a ribbon beneath these figures. The Secretary of State uses this seal on all official state documents.
You can see the motto on the state flag displayed at government buildings, schools, and public spaces throughout West Virginia. The flag hangs in courtrooms, legislative chambers, and the State Capitol in Charleston. Residents encounter the motto at civic ceremonies, sporting events, and patriotic celebrations. License plates, government websites, and official correspondence also feature the phrase. The motto reminds West Virginians of their heritage of independence.
Interesting Facts About the Motto
Fact 1 of 8
Joseph H. Diss Debar was born in Strasbourg, France, on March 6, 1820, and immigrated to America in 1842
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records.
Official legislative documentation about West Virginia's state motto and symbols. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Detailed history of the state motto and its adoption in 1863. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Biography of the artist who designed the Great Seal and suggested the state motto. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
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