David Clark
Curious, Bizarre & Storied State Symbols
by David Clark - March 18, 2009 - 8:00 AM

Almost everyone knows that each state of the Union has its own flag. State flags, however, are just the most visible elements of an elaborate, esoteric system of legalized symbols that characterize and codify our united states. For example, “Do You Realize??” by the Flaming Lips was just named the official Oklahoma State Rock Song. It’s time we were all exposed to the bizarre symbology of state identity-politics.

A Lesser-Known Tale of Badgers and Suckers

bucky-badger.jpgTo begin with, some of the most well-known state symbols allude to lesser-known meanings and histories. I grew up in Wisconsin and only recently learned that the Badger State title originally refers not to Bucky, nor to the savage beast itself, but to lead miners in the 1820s and 30s. These miners moved from prospect to prospect in southwestern Wisconsin, traveling light and often, with little money for luxury. When winter came and conditions worsened, those miners too far from home to migrate would dig themselves sheltering caves in the hills — like badgers. These temporary dwellings could be abandoned if a prospect proved fruitless, without much regret; and if the lead pickings were good, the lucky miner could fluff up his badger hole or upgrade to a more traditional Euro-American residence. For this practice Wisconsin miners were dubbed “badgers” — a jibe that was soon appropriated as a proud, statewide nickname. Bucky didn’t come along until 1949; the furry, quadruped badger, notoriously vicious when cornered, wasn’t declared Wisconsin’s state animal until 1957.

Other miners migrated south for the winter to the far end of Illinois, much like the region’s sucker fish; which earned them the nickname of Suckers, and their state of Illinois its unenviable nickname, The Sucker State.

The Rebel Woodpecker

alabama-bird.jpgThe state bird of Alabama has another tale behind it. They honor a little woodpecker they call the yellowhammer, which is known outside of Alabama as the northern flicker, the common flicker, or simply The Flicker. (It eats a lot of ants, and is not to be confused with the yellowhammer bunting of Europe and New Zealand.) State birds are chosen for reasons many and varied, some meaningful and others frivolous — from the pretty songs they sing to their proximity to extinction — and I believe this is the only bird singled out for its resemblance to Confederate uniforms. The story goes that a clean, trim, flashy bunch of new Confederate recruits one day passed by a weary, bedraggled, dusty pod of veterans, and their fresh uniforms, grey tinged with brilliant yellow, reminded some jokester vet of the woodpecker, so he let out a mocking call: “Yallerhammer, yallerhammer, flicker, flicker!” The jeer stuck, and the recruits were soon labeled the Yellowhammer Company. Later, as these things go, all Alabama troops were known as Yellowhammers, the whole state as the Yellowhammer State, and Confederate veterans developed a habit of wearing yellow feathers in their caps and lapels to dress up for post-war reunions.

How entertaining and informative. But the real fun starts when these state symbols more shamelessly approach the ridiculous. Let us consider some of the finest specimens:

Eat and Drink to the Honor of the State

Kool-Aid.jpgMost states have at least one form of official food. In Louisiana, the official doughnut is the beignet. (I’m unaware of any other state doughnuts — and I’m disappointed.) New York’s official muffin is made with apples; Minnesota’s with blueberries; and none have yet found it fit to honor the vegan bran and raisin muffin, despite whatever strange wonders it works on the abdominal tubing. Vermont is the only state with an official flavor: maple, as in maple syrup — but because they’ve designated the “flavor,” not the “syrup,” we can assume the appointment includes everything from maple-glaze for ham to autumnal maple lattes. Shockingly, Oklahoma has recognized a complete (and daunting) meal: fried okra, squash, cornbread, barbeque pork, biscuits, sausage and gravy, grits, corn, chicken friend steak, black-eyed peas, strawberries, and pecan pies. As for state drinks, Nebraska has Kool-Aid, Indiana has water (hubris!), and Alabama, the standout, has Conecuh Ridge Alabama Fine Whiskey — a re-creation of some well-regarded illegal moonshine made in the backwoods by a man named Clyde May.

The Silly, Sentimental, and Insulting Songs that Define Us

hang-on-sloopy.jpgAll states have songs, too, except New Jersey, where good cheer goes to die. Most states have more than one. There are state ballads, state marches, state waltzes, and so on. Connecticut has a state cantata (a narrative piece intermixed with solos and choruses); Louisiana has a state environmental song (“The Gifts of the Earth”); Massachusetts a polka (“Say Hello to Someone from Massachusetts”); a couple states have lullabies; and Ohio has an official rock song, “Hang On Sloopy.” Two state anthems, Maryland’s and Iowa’s, are set to the familiar tune of “O Tannenbaum!”, or “O Christmas Tree!”; but no states have designated official Christmas songs. And despite Texas’ toughboy image (their official footwear is the cowboy boot), it’s the only state with an official flower song — in praise of its state flower, the bluebonnet. Many of the traditional states songs are brazenly effusive. Arizona’s begins, “I love you, Arizona,” and continues, rather romantically, “You’re the magic in me.” California’s is similar, without the magic: “I love you, California, you’re the greatest state of all.” South Dakotans use the superlative when singing to “The state we love the best.”

Usually they’re just hilarious, but a few of these songs bear some heinously outdated lyrics. With a nod to the old Eternal Feminine, North Carolina praises its women as Queens of the Forest, “So graceful, so constant, yet to gentlest breath trembling.” The real trouble comes, though, with old minstrel tunes that portray humble “darkies” praising “old Massa” in song and romanticizing their cotton-picking servitude. Kentucky changed the language for “My Old Kentucky Home” in 1986 to glaze over such indiscretions. But Virginia still seems to have trouble acknowledging its error, and simply demoted its song, “Carry Me Back To Old Virginny,” to the status of “state song emeritus.” Virginia still seeks an adequate replacement, preferably one that doesn’t idealize slavery — but, of course, those are hard to come by.

Every State For Itself

gusty.jpgBesides these strange variations on common themes, many states have even more idiosyncratic symbols. Since 1962, the official sport of Maryland has been jousting, and more recently, the state’s official “exercise” was declared to be walking. Not even mall-walking or speed-walking — just “walking.” Kentucky doesn’t have a “sport,” but it does have an official tug-of-war: the Fordsville Tug-of-War Championship. Mississippi has a state toy, the teddy bear; Massachusetts a state bean, the navy bean; and Oklahoma proudly boasts the only state cartoon character, a gust of wind named Gusty that was used to report weather and news, between 1954 and 1989. (You can order commemorative Gusty artwork here.)

While many designations seem absurd, most aim to represent some definite aspect of a state’s intended “character.” Legislators want icons that mean something, that give you a sense of the land and its people — something like the bolo tie. Arizona named the bolo tie its official neckwear back in 1971. And more recently, in 2007, New Mexico added the same to its list of emblems. Apparently, it was an Arizona silversmith who invented the string-and-buckle necktie when he took off his hatband to avoid losing the precious buckle during a high-wind horse ride, and hung it around his neck. This discovery occurred as late as 1940, but the bolo’s become such an icon that it’s hard to imagine a Wild West without it.

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Comments (46)

  1. Didn’t the Flaming Lips write the official song of Oklahoma?

    posted by Pablo on 3-18-2009 at 12:13 am

  2. I wouldn’t necessarily say that all of your later examples are “ridiculous” just because they are unusual. For example, Nebraska waves the Kool-Aid flag because it was invented here (Hastings, NE). Why pick milk like everyone else* when you have a perfectly kick-butt beverage of your own creation?

    *And actually, we’re not even as trailblazing as I claim. Milk is, in fact, Nebraska’s state beverage (so your article isn’t quite accurate, though still wonderfully interesting)–Kool-Aid is our official state soft drink. I think there must be some back story there though–apparently, Kool-Aid earned its distinction in May 1998, while milk wasn’t named to its place of honor until September 1998. Perhaps there was some political heat taken for embracing a sugary-but-delicious fluid instead of a healthy-and-also-delicious (though not so tied to Nebraska) alternative.

    I also find it strange that Nebraska has nothing honoring any sort of crop output, even though that’s pretty much what we do. Perhaps I should start petitioning my state senator to address this horrible omission in state emblamage…

    posted by kate on 3-18-2009 at 12:56 am

  3. Here in Utah, we have an official state cooking pot, the dutch oven. Another, we have an official state folk dance, the square dance. It’s fun to see some of the things that become “official” symbols and such.

    posted by todd on 3-18-2009 at 1:29 am

  4. The Flaming Lips are from Oklahoma City. They also have an official street (Flaming Lips Alley….it’s a dead end alley with a dumpster lol) and they preform for the Oklahoma New Years Eve Bash every year.
    They love thier state.

    posted by Katy on 3-18-2009 at 9:20 am

  5. I’ve heard the Boston Creme Donut is the official donut of Massachusetts.

    posted by Kristen on 3-18-2009 at 9:29 am

  6. Is that serious question, Pablo? The official state song is “Oklahoma!” from the musical “Oklahoma!” by Rodgers and Hammerstein. That’s like asking if New Jersey’s state song is by Bon Jovi.

    posted by adam on 3-18-2009 at 10:00 am

  7. The Missouri-Kansas rivalry was started before either university was founded because of boarder fights about slavery.

    There were even groups called the Tigers and Jayhawks that would fight one another.

    posted by ekey on 3-18-2009 at 10:46 am

  8. I always thought our state’s animal was the coolest… The Beaver. Oregon is pretty cool, but its the only state where you normally wear Shorts and a Poncho at the same time, lock the garage but leave your house unlocked, and have snow in the desert in June.

    posted by Kate on 3-18-2009 at 11:37 am

  9. The official state cookie of Massachusetts is the chocolate chip cookie, since Nestles and the cookie were started/invented here.

    posted by Cheri on 3-18-2009 at 11:48 am

  10. New York’s State song (I Love New York) started as the theme to New York’s tourism campaign I (Heart) New York.

    posted by Kristine on 3-18-2009 at 12:00 pm

  11. I’m disappointed that Moxie, the state drink of Maine, wasn’t mentioned. Moxie has a long and storied history as an old-timey nerve tonic.

    Maine’s state flower isn’t a flower, but the pine cone (technically a flower, I guess).

    posted by Anne on 3-18-2009 at 12:14 pm

  12. Posts like this are why I love Mental Floss! Not only was the article great, but the comments are equally interesting!

    I live in Iowa and had no idea our state song was to the tune of O, Tannenbaum! In fact I’ve never heard the state song. I distinctly remember doing a social studies unit on Iowa once in elementary school and again in middle school and do not recollect ever hearing the state song or any mention of the tune…

    posted by bzzyb on 3-18-2009 at 12:35 pm

  13. Being from Wisconsin, David, you know as well as I that we do not call our neighbors to the south Suckers…

    posted by Peter W on 3-18-2009 at 12:58 pm

  14. Oklahoma just recently, like a month or two ago, made the Flaming Lips song it’s official rock song. The state has an official song, an official country song, and an official rock song. The rock song was just added to the list and was decided by voting. Anyone could nominate any Oklahoma born artist’s rock song. oklahomarocksong.org has details on the other finalists

    posted by Melissa on 3-18-2009 at 1:03 pm

  15. I’ve lived in Illinois my whole life, but I’ve never heard it refered to as “The Sucker State.”

    We do have a state fossil, though; it’s the Tully Monster.

    posted by bedhead on 3-18-2009 at 1:06 pm

  16. The only reason we don’t have a state song here in Jersey is because who can choose between two of Jersey’s finest sons: Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi! They both have appropriately title songs, Jersey Girl and Who Says you Can’t Go Home to honor our State. But seriously. . . how do you choose between Bruce & Bon Jovi! It’s can’t be done I tell you!

    posted by Mavis on 3-18-2009 at 1:33 pm

  17. New Mexico has a stste question: Red or green? I’m assuming that refers to peppers.

    posted by Sara on 3-18-2009 at 2:04 pm

  18. The official state ROCK song is by the flamming lips, but the offical state song is still “oklahoma”.

    posted by mikefromtulsa on 3-18-2009 at 3:08 pm

  19. @Mavis: Jersey Girl is a Tom Waits song, popularized by Springsteen.
    (Not sayin’ it should not be the NJ state song, just sayin’.)

    posted by drunko on 3-18-2009 at 3:39 pm

  20. As a former resident of both IL and WI, everyone knows that a cheesehead calls them Flatlanders, or FIBs (The I stands for IL, F and B are a little more colorful).

    And I recall from an old Robert Wuhl bit that there was a movement in NJ to have Springsteen’s Born To Run named as state song. Wuhl’s point was this proposed state song contained the lyrics:
    “Baby this town rips the bones from your back
    Its a deathtrap, it’s a suicide rap
    We gotta get out while we’re young
    Cuz tramps like us, baby we were born to run…”

    posted by Jonny on 3-18-2009 at 5:07 pm

  21. Can anyone name their State Soil?
    Vermont’s is the Tunbridge series.

    The Hathaway Farm’s corn maze theme this year was “Get lost in Vermont” where Vermont trivia helped you choose the correct path. One of the few I knew off the top of my head was that Talc is the state mineral. Who knew that “Moonlight in Vermont” was NOT the state song?

    posted by Jess on 3-18-2009 at 10:40 pm

  22. isn’t the NJ state song Springsteen’s “Born to Run?”

    posted by chris on 3-25-2009 at 11:13 am

  23. It was mentioned that New Mexico had a state question. “Red or Green?” For those of you that aren’t in the know, it is frequently asked in restaurants by waiters to patrons regarding their choice of chili topping for the enchiladas.

    posted by Stephanie on 8-6-2009 at 3:40 pm

  24. New Jersey’s state legislature passed “the unofficial youth anthem” a few years ago: Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run.”

    posted by EuripidesTheYounger on 9-8-2009 at 2:10 pm

  25. I think it’s impossible to discuss state songs without a nod to John Denver’s “Country Roads” in reference to West Virginia. The even more amusing part is that John Denver also wrote “Rocky Mountain High” in reference to Colorado. This has been a point of contention in recent years since West Virginia University and Colorado University have played eachother in football. The commentators LOVE to point out that Denver wasn’t truly loyal to either state.

    posted by Jono on 10-27-2009 at 1:29 pm

  26. The “chicken friend” steak in Oklahoma’s State Meal sounds delicious!

    posted by Doflitchit on 10-31-2009 at 5:16 pm

  27. North Carolina’s state beverage is Milk!

    posted by Laurie on 11-5-2009 at 1:28 pm

  28. I don’t know about Maryland or Iowa, but the state song of my home state is also to the tune of “O Tannenbaum!” It’s called “Michigan, My Michigan.”

    Our state soil is Kalkaska sand, and our state reptile is the painted turtle!

    posted by Tammy on 11-30-2009 at 4:43 pm

  29. Washington’s state song is “Washington, My Home,” and is all about the important state stuff like trees, streams, mountains, and wheat.

    However, “Louie Louie” ALMOST became our state song, and was named our official rock song instead, starting the trend.

    Our state marine mammal is the orca!

    posted by Leah on 12-20-2009 at 1:00 pm

  30. Oh, wait, it’s still an unofficial rock song. But they keep trying to make it official!

    posted by Leah on 12-20-2009 at 1:02 pm

  31. Agh! In New Mexico it is not “chili topping” for enchiladas! It is red or green chile, the type of chile used in and on the enchiladas. “Chili” is a type of stew–”chile” is a pepper.

    posted by Elizabeth on 1-4-2010 at 11:35 am

  32. I like articles dealing with interesting factoids that are specific to one state or another. Keep ‘em coming. =]

    posted by Cody on 1-6-2010 at 5:12 pm

  33. When I was in the navy, my boss loved to surprise us with questions like, “what’s your state flower?” I quickly learned that it was less important to be RIGHT than it was to answer QUICKLY. Some memories of my watch shift and what we came up with:
    State Flower: dandelion
    State Song: Slow Ride
    State Beverage: Yukon Jack and Diet Mountain Dew
    State Bird: Muskrat
    State Battle Cry: GO &%$# YOUR MOTHER!
    (that one usually ended the game)

    posted by TBV on 3-9-2010 at 2:38 pm

  34. “Maryland, My Maryland” is actually a very odd choice for a state song. Had the federal government not sent a lot of troops, MD would have joined the Confederacy during the Civil War – putting DC completely in rebel territory. The lyrics of the song are a protest poem against the federal occupation. “The despot’s heel is on thy shore” is a reference to the U.S Government.

    posted by PartiallyDeflected on 4-27-2010 at 5:10 pm

  35. Let’s talk about the most unique state in the union, Louisiana.

    Louisiana’s official musical instrument, the diatonic accordion, commonly known as the “Cajun” accordion

    The alligator was adopted as Louisiana’s state reptile in 1983.

    Louisiana’s amphibian, the green tree frog.

    State Crustacean:
    DO NOT CALL IT A CRAYFISH…
    South Louisiana is the crawfish capital of the world, supporting a multimillion dollar a year industry. The crawfish in appearance greatly resembles the lobster, but is very much smaller. Its color varies with the water in which it lives and its variety.

    State Mammal:
    Louisiana black bears
    (Yes we have bears in La.)

    State Dog
    The Catahoula Leopard Dog -
    Is the only breed of dog native to Louisiana and became our official state dog in 1979. This hound is a cross of a domestic dog the Indians of the Catahoula Lake region raised and a Spanish “war dog” that came through the area in the early 1500′s. The dog has glassy eyes, webbed feet, and spotted coat and is gentle with children, loyal to family, and aggressive to strangers, making it a good pet and guard dog. As a hunting dog the animal is diligent, dependable, efficient and especially good at tracking deer, coons and squirrels.

    State Bird:
    The brown pelican

    Oh and we also have the Nation’s tallest capitol building coming in a 450ft or 34 stories tall.
    The entrance is approached by a grand staircase with one step for each of the 48 states, listed in the order of their admittance to the Union. Alaska and Hawaii were added to the top step when they were made states.

    posted by -Paul on 9-7-2010 at 3:28 pm

  36. some tidbits about Texas:

    Tree: Pecan
    Gemstone: Texas Blue Topaz
    State Shell: Lightning Whelk (only found in the Gulf coast)
    Grass: sideoats grama
    Small mammal: Armour-Plated Armadillo
    Large mammal: Longhorn
    Flying Mammal: Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
    Pepper: Jalapeno
    Vegetable: 1015 sweet onion
    Fruit:Texas red grapefruit
    Insect: Monarch butterfly

    Fun trivia from everyone!!!

    posted by megaroo on 10-29-2010 at 5:07 pm

  37. State Song: Hawai’i Pono’i.
    I find this funny as it is a song about being loyal to your king. (Kamehameha) And we LOVE our song. I have been to many events where people will not stand during the National Anthem but all get to their feet for Hawaii Pono’i. This is mostly due to folks still being upset about the (illegal) overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy.
    State Fish: Humuhumunukunukuapua’a
    Our fish is like a badge of honor for tourists that come here. They all try and learn how to say it.
    State Tree: Kukui (Candlenut)
    State Flower: Pua aloalo (Yellow Hibiscus)
    State Motto: “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono” Which translates into “The Life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”
    Hawaiian is a “double” language in which you can say many things in one line. Our motto has another way to translate—with a nod towards restoring sovereignty to its people.
    In 1843, Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III) spoke this phrase on the steps of Kawaiahao Church, having marched there from what is now known as Thomas Square. This was on the day the Kingdom of Hawai’i was restored to its Independence or Sovereignty by Admiral Thomas of Great Britain. Treaties had just been signed with Britain & France which recognized the independent nation status of Hawai`i. The U.S. also signed onto this same treaty. (Ha ha ha ha)

    posted by Keaka on 11-4-2010 at 12:47 pm

  38. Colorado’s state song is “Where the Columbines Grow” (though I’ve never heard it sung), so that’s another song about a state flower. It also has a state dinosaur (stegosaurus) and a state grass (blue gamma grass)

    There was a campaign to make the trombone the official instrument of Iowa (because the composer of “76 Trombones” is from here), but I don’t think it was successful.

    posted by Jamie on 11-12-2010 at 11:24 pm

  39. Back when I was acting I used the California State Song (I Love you California) as my audition tune. Mostly because it sucked and I can’t sing. Everyone seems to think the state song is California, Here I Come. But no.

    “I love you, California, you’re the greatest state of all. I love you, in the winter, summer, spring, and in the fall…” and it doesn’t get any better

    posted by Decca on 11-15-2010 at 2:21 pm

  40. Reading this post inspired me to pull out the Wisconsin Blue Book, sent to me by my request to my legislator. I never knew until now that states have a state tartan. Here what my source said:

    “There needed to be an official Wisconsin tartan to represent the state’s history and culture and to be recognized as an official state symbol. Wisconsinites could wear the tartan as a recognized symbol of their home state. The Wisconsin legislature passed legislation establishing the official Wisconsin tartan in April 2008 and the Act was signed by the governor on 7 April 2008. The colours in the tartan are symbolic of the State history and culture: brown represents the fur trade that opened the state to new settlers; grey represents the lead miners who helped give the state its nickname ‘Badgers’ (the badger is also the State’s mascot and the mascot of the University of Wisconsin); red represents the University system that has given Wisconsin so much innovation and industry; blue represents the state’s waters that include the great lakes, commerce and recreation; green represents forests, agriculture and their contribution to Wisconsin; yellow represents both dairy and brewing – two industries that helped build Wisconsin. Yellow and green intersect to represent professional sports in the color combination of one of the state’s teams.”

    posted by Katherine on 1-7-2011 at 6:00 pm

  41. Rhode Island has two State Beverages- one for the summer, one for the winter. It also has a State Rock, Cumberlandite. It’s found only in- you guessed it- Cumberland, RI.

    posted by Bill S on 2-1-2011 at 3:08 pm

  42. It’s hard to grow up in Kentucky and not know the words to My Old Kentucky Home, or at least the vast majority of them. It’s sung at the beginning or end of many, many events (for example, it’s always sung at just before the Kentucky Derby, and at the end of University of Kentucky sports events). We were taught the lyrics in elementary school, and even before Frankfort changed the lyrics in 1986, we were pretty well taught not to say “darkies,” but were always taught the real history of the song.
    Funny story… I was a reporter for many years, and about 10 years ago the state was breaking ground for a new arts center in our town (Berea). I had a friend who had moved here from Michigan, and I warned her she should learn the lyrics before attending the ground breaking with me because the song would be sung. As we sat a little more than three feet from the governor and first lady, we all stood to sing the song. My friend was proud she had learned the words, and was singing loudly. Unfortunately, she had learned the old lyrics, and I will never forget the look First Lady Patton shot her when she sang “darkies” at the top of her lungs. I still laugh when I think about it.
    Some unique state symbols we have are the fresh water pearl (state gemstone), spotted bass (state fish), Chevy Corvette(state automobile, they’re all made here), and clogging (state dance).

    posted by Skip on 7-8-2011 at 10:32 pm

  43. Paul, you made me laugh so hard. I’m a Louisianian and anytime someone says “crayfish” that’s EXACTLY what I say– “IT’S craWfish!”
    God, that made me laugh so much.

    posted by ohepi on 7-24-2011 at 6:53 pm

  44. Euripides the Younger wrote:”New Jersey’s state legislature passed “the unofficial youth anthem” a few years ago: Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run.”

    Doesn’t that make it the *official* “unofficial youth anthem”???

    And the correct answer to the “red or green” chile question is: Christmas! (both red and green)

    posted by Princess Mom on 11-13-2011 at 12:43 am

  45. We in North Carolina aren’t quite as high-falutin’ as Maryland; our official sport is stock-car racing. And we have an Official Carnivorous Plant: the venus flytrap.

    posted by MoodyMoody on 1-2-2012 at 10:53 pm

  46. Nebraska for the win! I love Kool-Aid

    posted by evan on 1-18-2012 at 4:55 pm

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