State Symbols

The American flag is possibly the greatest symbol of the United States. Though the US flag may appear simple, there is much of learn about it. Each of the 50 states in the United States has its own flag with unique symbols as well. They also have their own state mottos, birds, trees, flowers and animals.

Alabama

Motto: “We Dare Maintain Our Rights”
Bird: Yellowhammer
Tree: Longleaf Pine
Flower: Camellia

Alaska

Motto: “North to the Future”
Bird: Willow Ptarmigan
Tree: Sitka Spruce
Flower: Forget-me-not
Animal: Moose

Arizona

Motto: “God Enriches”
Bird: Cactus Wren
Tree: Palo Verde
Flower: Saguaro Cactus Blossom
Animal: Ringtail

Arkansas

Motto: “The People Rule”
Bird: Northern Mockingbird
Tree: Pine
Flower: Apple Blossom
Animal: White-tailed Deer

California

Motto: “Eureka”
Bird: California Quail
Tree: Coast Redwood, Giant Sequoia
Flower: California Poppy
Animal: California Grizzly Bear

Colorado

Motto: “Nothing Without the Deity”
Bird: Lark Bunting
Tree: Blue Spruce
Flower: Rocky Mountain Columbine
Animal: Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

Connecticut

Motto: “He Who Transplanted Still Sustains”
Bird: American Robin
Tree: White Oak
Flower: Mountain Laurel
Animal: Sperm Whale

Delaware

Motto: “Liberty and Independence”
Bird: Blue Hen Chicken
Tree: American Holly
Flower: Peach Blossom
Animal: Horseshoe Crab

District of Columbia (DC)

Motto: “Justice to All”
Bird: Wood Thrush
Tree: Scarlet Oak
Flower: American Beauty Rose

Florida

Motto: “In God We Trust”
Bird: Northern Mockingbird
Tree: Cabbage Palmetto
Flower: Orange Blossom
Animal: Florida Panther

Georgia

Motto: “Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation”
Bird: Brown Thrasher
Tree: Live Oak
Flower: Cherokee Rose
Animal: Right Whale

Hawaii

Motto: “The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness”
Bird: Nene (Hawaiian Goose)
Tree: Candlenut Tree, Kukui
Flower: Pua Aloalo
Animal: Humpback Whale

Idaho

Motto: “Let it be Perpetual”
Bird: Mountain Bluebird
Tree: Western White Pine
Flower: Syringa Mock Orange

Illinois

Motto: “State Sovereignty, National Union”
Bird: Northern Cardinal
Tree: White Oak
Flower: Purple Violet
Animal: White-tailed Deer

Indiana

Motto: “The Crossroads of America”
Bird: Northern Cardinal
Tree: Tulip Poplar
Flower: Peony

Iowa

Motto: “Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain”
Bird: American Goldfinch
Tree: Oak
Flower: Wild Prairie Rose

Kansas

Motto: “To The Stars Through Difficulties”
Bird: Western Meadowlark
Tree: Eastern Cottonwood
Flower: Sunflower
Animal: American Buffalo

Kentucky

Motto: “Let Us Be Grateful to God”
Bird: Northern Cardinal
Tree: Tulip Poplar
Flower: Goldenrod
Animal: Cray Squirrel

Louisiana

Motto: “Union, Justice, and Confidence”
Bird: Brown Pelican
Tree: Bald Cypress
Flower: Magnolia
Animal: Black Bear

Maine

Motto: “I Lead”
Bird: Black-capped Chickadee
Tree: Eastern White Pine
Flower: Eastern White Pine Tassel and Cone
Animal: Moose

Maryland

Motto: “Strong Deeds, Gentle Words”
Bird: Baltimore Oriole
Tree: White Oak
Flower: Black-eyed Susan

Massachusetts

Motto: “By the Sword We Seek Peace, but Peace Only Under Liberty”
Bird: Black-capped Chickadee
Tree: American Elm
Flower: Mayflower
Animal: Right Whale

Michigan

Motto: “If You Seek a Pleasant Peninsula, Look About You”
Bird: American Robin
Tree: Eastern White Pine
Flower: Apple Blossom
Animal: White-tailed Deer

Minnesota

Motto: “The Star of the North”
Bird: Common Loon
Tree: Red Pine
Flower: Pink and White Ladyslipper

Mississippi

Motto: “By Valor and Arms”
Bird: Northern Mockingbird
Tree: Magnolia
Flower: Magnolia
Animal: White-tailed Deer; Red Fox; Bottlenose Dolphin

Missouri

Motto: “The Welfare of the People Shall Be the Supreme Law”
Bird: Eastern Bluebird
Tree: Flowering Dogwood
Flower: Hawthorn
Animal: Missouri Mule; Paddlefish

Montana

Motto: “Gold or Silver”
Bird: Western Meadowlark
Tree: Ponderosa Pine
Flower: Bitterroot
Animal: Grizzly Bear

Nebraska

Motto: “Equality Before the Law”
Bird: Western Meadowlark
Tree: Eastern Cottonwood
Flower: Goldenrod
Animal: White-tailed Deer

Nevada

Motto: “All for Our Country”
Bird: Mountain Bluebird
Tree: Single-Leaf Pinyon Pine
Flower: Bristle Cone Pine
Animal: Desert Bighorn Sheep

New Hampshire

Motto: “Live Free or Die”
Bird: Purple Finch
Tree: Paper Birch
Flower: Purple Lilac
Animal: White-tailed Deer

New Jersey

Motto: “Liberty and Prosperity”
Bird: American Goldfinch
Tree: Northern Red Oak
Flower: Violet
Animal: Horse

New Mexico

Motto: “It Grows as It Goes”
Bird: Greater Roadrunner
Tree: Pinyon Pine
Flower: Yucca
Animal: Black Bear

New York

Motto: “Excelsior”
Bird: Eastern Bluebird
Tree: Sugar Maple
Flower: Rose
Animal: Beaver

North Carolina

Motto: “To Be, Rather than to Seem”
Bird: Northern Cardinal
Tree: Longleaf Pine
Flower: Flowering Dogwood
Animal: Grey Squirrel

North Dakota

Motto: “Liberty and Union Now and Forever; One and Inseparable”
Bird: Western Meadowlark
Tree: American Elm
Flower: Wild Prairie Rose

Ohio

Motto: “With God All Things Are Possible”
Bird: Northern Cardinal
Tree: Ohio Buckeye
Flower: Scarlet Carnation
Animal: White-tailed Deer

Oklahoma

Motto: “Labor Conquers All Things”
Bird: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Tree: Eastern Redbud
Flower: Mistletoe
Animal: Bison; White-tailed Deer; Raccoon

Oregon

Motto: “She Flies with Her Own Wings
Bird: Western Meadowlark
Tree: Douglas Fir
Flower: Oregon Grape
Animal: Beaver

Pennsylvania

Motto: “Virtue, Liberty, and Independence”
Bird: Ruffed Grouse
Tree: Eastern Hemlock
Flower: Mountain Laurel
Animal: White-tailed Deer

Rhode Island

Motto: “Hope”
Bird: Rhode Island Red
Tree: Red Maple
Flower: Violet

South Carolina

Motto: “Prepared in Mind and Resources, While I Breathe, I Hope”
Bird: Carolina Wren
Tree: Cabbage Palmetto
Flower: Yellow Jessamine
Animal: White-tailed Deer

South Dakota

Motto: “Liberty and Union Now and Forever; One and Inseparable”
Bird: Ring-necked Pheasant
Tree: Black Hills Spruce
Flower: Pasque Flower
Animal: Coyote

Tennessee

Motto: “Agriculture and Commerce”
Bird: Northern Mockingbird
Tree: Tulip Poplar
Flower: Iris
Animal: Raccoon

Texas

Motto: “Friendship”
Bird: Northern Mockingbird
Tree: Pecan
Flower: Texas Blue Bonnet
Animal: Longhorn

Utah

Motto: “Industry”
Bird: California Gull
Tree: Blue Spruce
Flower: Sego Lily
Animal: Rocky Mountain Elk

Vermont

Motto: “Freedom and Unity”
Bird: Hermit Thrush
Tree: Sugar Maple
Flower: Red Clover
Animal: Morgan Horse

Virginia

Motto: “Thus Always to Tyrants”
Bird: Northern Cardinal
Tree: Flowering Dogwood
Flower: Flowering Dogwood

Washington

Motto: “Bye and Bye”
Bird: American Goldfinch
Tree: Western Hemlock
Flower: Coast Rhododendron

West Virginia

Motto: “Mountaineers are Always Free
Bird: Northern Cardinal
Tree: Sugar Maple
Flower: Rhododendron
Animal: Black Bear

Wisconsin

Motto: “Forward”
Bird: American Robin
Tree: Sugar Maple
Flower: Violet
Animal: Badger; Dairy Cow; White-tailed Deer

Wyoming

Motto: “Equal Rights”
Bird: Western Meadowlark
Tree: Plains Cottonwood
Flower: Indian Paintbrush
Animal: Bison

If you are counting, you will probably realize that there are 51 states, instead of 50. Well, the District of Columbia, better known as Washington DC, is the federal state and it’s normally bundled in.

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