Like most people, the first thing that comes to mind when I hear California is “movies”, with Golden Gate a close second, which is why this is my favorite. Muir is just a bit too P.C…
Ayigh. Make that:
John Muir overlooking Yosemite, apparently being attacked by a bird. Well, either it looks like he’s overlooking Yosemite, or he’s 3000 feet tall and being attacked by Rodan, or he’s peaking over some boulders.
Jeez, even a “bear flag” design wouldn’t do? sigh I guess we’re just lucky it didn’t end up being a tree, or a bunch of old hippies protesting.
Quoth Sal Ammoniac:
Because that’s where the Corps of Discovery provisioned and set out, maybe? Seems perfectly appropriate, to me, especially what with the bicentennial.
Hal Briston, that would have been a lot funnier had you chosen any state other than Wyoming. Ever hear of a little place called Yellowstone? I am surprised, though, that none of the Wyoming proposals so far includes a geyser or Devil’s Tower.
For Ohio (my birth state), I agree that Neil Armstrong was a good choice, but he does seem a bit just plopped down there. Stepping off of the ladder would have been so much better. And drop the Wright Flyer: Yeah, we had a heck of a lot more to do with it than North Carolina, but have pity on the poor Carolignians. It’s not like they have anything else at all in that state.
Montana is tricky, though… We have plenty of natural beauty, but not that much that’s actually distinctive. Glacier International Park, perhaps, but I’m not sure how one would depict a recognizable glacier on a quarter. Or maybe a general in late 19th century uniform, with a bunch of arrows poking out of him :).
And in general, I’m really disappointed in all of the states that included the shape of the state. Yeah, one wants to be distinctive and recognizeable, but one would hope that your state has something more going for it than its shape.
I’d have liked to see Dean Smith on their quarter. 
Actually, I like that about the state quarters. I’ve actually learned some neat stuff about states from them. Don’t put the first thing you think of when you think of a specific state! Show us something new, that not everyone knows about already.
Well, why do you think I resorted to the only other we’re notable for - WE HAVE NO SALES TAX. WHOOHOO! New Hampshire’s a lovely state but doesn’t have much that’s, well, emblematic. We had that one thing. :smack:
We had that and the primaries. S’about it.
They couldn’t have done better on the SC quarter IMO. Carolina Wren on Yellow Jasmine with a Palmetto tree. :swoon:
I love my State. And Yellow Jasmine grows on my back porch 
California Condors are terrific, but you have to admit they’re not the cutest birds. I would have liked to have seen the ocean, the sun, and a pair of snazzy sunglasses myself.
As for NYC, the SoL hadda be there, of course; I would have liked to have seen Niagara Falls maybe or Federal Hall. Guess it’s just lucky we didn’t have the Twin Towers on it. Or at least captioned what the lines were, especially since the Canal really doesn’t exist anymore.
New Hampshaw? That sign that greets you on Route 1 when you enter from nanny-state MA:
GUNS
FIREWORKS
AMMO
Says it all. That or Shoreham (?) nuke plant.
I hate how the Missouri quarter has (presumably) Lewis and Clark rowing their raft toward the Gateway Arch. Talk about mixing your time periods.
I read in the L.A. Times that the creator of the original drawing for that got so mad at what was done to it that he and friends put stickers on the back of thousands of MO quarters, drawing the Secret Service into the issue.
Pennsylvania clearly should have had potholes, traffic barrels, and toll booths. Lord how I hate the Turnpike.