# What unusual state symbol does your state have? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 13, 2021, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635 "2021-08-13T23:07:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/21 "2021-08-19T16:46:17Z")
Some unusual North Carolina state symbols: State Art Medium: Clay State Carnivorous Plant: Venus Fly Trap (which is a pretty well known plant, but its native range is _very_ limited - only within about 100km of Wilmington, North Carolina) State Christmas Tree: Fraser Fir (we’ve also got a regular old State Tree, of course, the Pine Tree) State Folk Art: The Whirligigs by Vollis Simpson (I’m sure lots of states have some high-falutin’ state art, but the ol’ Tar Heel State has the Whirligigs, “kinetic sculptures”, some over 50 feet high, mostly built out of old farm machinery, implements, and metal scrap) ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/22 "2021-08-19T22:50:33Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Origin story the first: Some politician said something to the effect of, “I am not impressed by flowery speech. I’m from a land of cockleburs and what not. I’m from Missouri, you have to show me.” > [@HeyHomie](#): > > Both interpretations portray us as hardscrabble bumpkins, if not as being downright stupid. I think the first one describes people who are skeptics. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/23 "2021-08-19T23:43:48Z")
> [@gdave](#): > > State Art Medium: Clay I think that’s also the official state soil. At least it’s all I ever saw down around RTP. Red clay everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/24 "2021-08-20T19:21:26Z")
Ooh., I knew about Antigo Silt Loam, but not the song. I like Wisconsin’s state fossil : The trilobite Wisconsin has both a state rock (red granite) AND state mineral (galena). It also has a state microbe ( Lactococcus lactis – used in cheesemaking of course), and most importantly a state pastry (kringle) Brian Sate dance is the polka ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/25 "2021-08-20T19:35:50Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > …long prized by Missouri vintners… There’s a phrase I never thought I’d hear. > [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > This is due to the work of newspaper columnist Joe Dirck, who registered as a lobbyist for the sole purpose of getting the Ohio legislature to adopt it. He did it in response to a failed attempt to make “Louie, Louie” the state song of Washington I remember the effort to get _Louie, Louie_ adopted as the state song of Washington. It started as a publicity stunt by a Seattle TV show called _Almost Live_, which was also where Bill Nye and Joel McHale got their start. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/26 "2021-08-21T18:42:39Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > Minnesota has a state…Drink - Milk Really? The state that has a cartoon bear drinking beer? From the land of sky blue waters? That needs to change to Hamm’s beer. > [@salinqmind1](#): > > Whitesboro, NY has a seal depicting a settler strangling a Native American. 😯 A lot of people have objected, but it remains, updated a bit…some say, ‘they’re just wrassling, it’s all in fun!’) You can’t leave us hanging without a picture. Nah, no problem there. > **[New York Village Changes Controversial Seal Showing a White Settler Wrestling...](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-york-village-changes-controversial-seal-showing-white-settler-wrestling-native-american-180965060/)** > > The seal was widely mocked and criticized after villagers voted against changing it last year ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2021, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/27 "2021-08-21T19:14:03Z")
> [@Rhodes](#): > > So many [odd ones in Texas](https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ref/abouttx/symbols.html). You have to wonder how much thought went into these. After all, these official state symbols of Texas were passed by the same Legislature that voted unanimously to [honor the Boston Stranger for his “unconventional techniques involving population control.”](https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Texas-lawmaker-pranked-colleagues-to-pass-bill-6172650.php) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2021, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/28 "2021-08-21T21:43:35Z")
Hawaii’s state fish is the [humuhumunukunukuapuaa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reef_triggerfish), aka the reef triggerfish for you mainlanders. I have always been proud of the fact that I am able to pronounce the name flawlessly. Hawaii’s state microbe is the _Flavobacterium akiainvivens_. Or will be at some point, as it is only proposed for now. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/29 "2021-08-22T02:37:59Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > Red or green? It’s a trick question. Because whichever one you choose, you always wonder if the other one is better. So the correct answer is “Christmas”, which is half red and half green. BTW, just put up my first 25 lbs of green up in the freezer today. I’ll get the next sack tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/30 "2021-08-22T14:42:00Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > South Carolina’s state dance is the shag, Oops - This has a very different meaning on this side of the Atlantic. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/31 "2021-08-22T14:58:45Z")
Michigan has TWO state stones. The state stone is the Petoskey stone (fossilized coral). The state GEMstone is the Isle Royal Greenstone. Scroll to the bottom of the following link for the full list of Michigan state symbols. (The article also mentions Utah having a state cooking pot, the Dutch Oven.) [https://www.mlive.com/news/g66l-2019/04/731d5a791e1233/the-surprising-stories-behind-michigans-state-symbols.htmlGreenstone](https://www.mlive.com/news/g66l-2019/04/731d5a791e1233/the-surprising-stories-behind-michigans-state-symbols.htmlGreenstone). ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/32 "2021-08-23T12:53:06Z")
> [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > (The article also mentions Utah having a state cooking pot, the Dutch Oven.) See post 8. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/33 "2021-08-23T14:27:16Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Hawaii’s state fish is the [humuhumunukunukuapuaa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reef_triggerfish), aka the reef triggerfish for you mainlanders. I was on Pinel Island off St Martin, ready to place my lunch order when a fisherman ran up from his boat with his catch. Our waiter asked if I’d be interested in fresh triggerfish. There was one. It was delicious and beautiful as well. I’m sitting there preparing to dig in and other diners kept wandering over and taking pictures of my plate. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/34 "2021-08-23T15:05:27Z")
While the Wisconsin state bird is rather ordinary (Robin), I was surprised to learn that the scientific name of the Robin is “Turdus migratorius”. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/35 "2021-08-23T15:22:25Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > rather ordinary (Robin) In the UK, the bird they call a Robin is _Erithacus rubecula_, the [European Robin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_robin). A totally different bird than _our_ [Robin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_robin), which is a thrush. European Robin [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Erithacus_rubecula_with_cocked_head.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Erithacus_rubecula_with_cocked_head.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635/36 "2021-08-27T09:48:46Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > While the Wisconsin state bird is rather ordinary (Robin), I was surprised to learn that the scientific name of the Robin is “Turdus migratorius”. Yep. The Michigan state bird is also the Robin. A few years back there was an effort to change the state bird 1) Because it wasn’t a year-round resident. 2) because the scientific name “Turdus” didn’t sound nice. I’m glad to say that the effort failed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unusual-state-symbol-does-your-state-have/948635.md?page=1)