When did the bald eagle first become a national emblem? It first appeared on the Great Seal of the U.S., which was used on U.S. documents in 1782, according to NBC News. Then, it was designated as ...

The bald eagle is also protected under the National Emblem Act of 1940, which makes it illegal to sell or hunt the creature. The birds were once on the brink of extinction, but the population has ...