Technically, there is no state stone of Ohio. The official symbol that probably comes closest to being the state stone of Ohio is state gemstone, flint. Flint itself is not a rock, but a type of quartz, which in itself,…
Music has always been an important part of the US state of Tennessee’s culture. The state is considered the country music capital of the US, and Nashville, the capital city of Tennessee, is known as “Music City.” The fourth largest…
Iowa, the Hawkeye State, officially adopted the state song of Iowa in 1911, making The Song of Iowa a state symbol. In 1897, Samuel Hawkins Marshall Byers wrote the lyrics, based on the traditional German folk song, O, Tannenbaum. The…
The history behind the state motto of Indiana began with a column in the Evansville Courier, written in the 1930s by J. Roy Strickland, who reminded people that Indiana still did not have an official motto despite the fact that…
The state bird of Virginia is the cardinal or northern cardinal. It is a medium-sized songbird and was adopted on 25 January 1950 as the official state bird. Northern cardinals have a distinctive appearance, which makes them easy to identify.…
The state bird of Arizona is the cactus wren, which is scientifically known as Heleodytes brunneicapillus couesi. The cactus wren was chosen as the state bird by the Arizona State Legislature in 1931, and remained the state's only wildlife symbol…
The basic design of the state seal of Texas remains similar to one designed in 1836, when Texas gained independence from Mexico. A star with five points represents the dominant feature and the primary focus on the seal. In addition…
The basic design of the state seal of New Mexico is believed to date back the the 1860s, although the final design for the seal was not officially adopted until 1913. It depicts a bald eagle, the national bird of…
The Stateville Correctional Center is one of the most storied prisons in U.S. history. Built in 1925 in Crest Hill, Illinois, the maximum security state prison has housed numerous famed and notorious criminals, such as Leopold and Loeb, Richard Speck…
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a US federal program that can help give financial aid to those with disabilities. It is not the same as receiving disability pay. Normally, one may be eligible for disability payments if one has worked…