West Virginia is nicknamed the Mountain State, and entered into Statehood on June 20, 1863.  The West Virginia State Capital is Charleston, and the West Virginia State motto is montani semper liberi which means mountaineers are always free.  The West Virginia State flower is the rhododendron (1903). The West Virginia State tree is the sugar maple (1949).  The West Virginia State bird is the cardinal (1949).  The West Virginia State animal is the black bear (1973).  The West Virginia State colors are blue and gold (1863).