In 1819, Alabama became the 22nd American state; since then, it has been nicknamed the Yellowhammer State, the Heart of Dixie and the Cotton State. The yellowhammer nickname comes from the American Civil War, when a group of soldiers from…
The United States Postal Service (USPS) does not have an official motto and never has. Many people believe that the English translation of an ancient Greek quotation was officially adopted as the US Postal Service motto. Translated by George H.…
The tulip poplar, or liriodendron tulipifera, is the state tree of Tennessee. It is also the state tree of Kentucky and Indiana. This tree is actually a member of the magnolia family and isn’t a true poplar. It was named…
According to New Hampshire law, adopted 22 May 1947, the state tree of New Hampshire is the Betula papyrifera, commonly known as the white birch. The tree is also called the paper birch and canoe birch tree, since it was…
Forty-eight American states have one or more state songs or anthems, chosen by the legislature or government as a symbol of the state. Some of these, such as "Oklahoma!" or "Georgia on my Mind," are well-known, while others, such as…
The official state song of Minnesota is entitled “Hail Minnesota” and was written in 1904 and 1905 by two students at the University of Minnesota, Truman E. Rickard, and Arthur E. Upson. The words and music were originally written for…
The song “Michigan, My Michigan” is often considered the state song of Michigan. In actuality, the state has no single official state song. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources cites two songs, “Michigan, My Michigan” and a long-forgotten song entitled…
The official state song of California is I Love You, California. Written in 1913 by a clothing merchant from Los Angeles named Francis Bernard Silverwood, the process for making it the state song of California did not begin until 1951.…
The state motto of Texas is “Friendship," which was derived from Tejas, a Spanish derivation of the name of a native Indian tribe — Caddo. Tejas literally means "friends" and is also the source of the name “Texas.” The motto…
The state motto of Pennsylvania is “Virtue, Liberty, and Independence.” This particular phrase was adopted by the state government as an “official” motto in 1875, and since then has appeared on numerous materials and documents, and is featured on the…