Welcome to the Sooner State! Oklahoma has a big roster of state symbols, many of them quite distinctive. It has one of the most spectacular state birds, the scissor-tailed flycatcher. Its state reptile, the mountain boomer (aka collared lizard), is also pretty impressive. (Continued below)
| Nicknames & Slogans | |||
| Nicknames | The Sooner State | ||
| Symbols of State | |||
| Motto | Labor Omnia Vincit | 1906 | > |
| Song and Anthem | Oklahoma | 1953 | > |
| (former) | Oklahoma, A Toast | 1935 | |
| EcoSymbols | |||
| Flower | Oklahoma rose (Rosa odorata) | 2004 | > |
| Wildflower | Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) | 1986 | > |
| Floral Emblem | mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum) | 1893 | > |
| Tree | redbud (Cercis canadensis) | 1937 | > |
| Grass | Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) | 1972 | > |
| Fruit | strawberry (Fragaria) | 1995 | > |
| Vegetable | watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) | 2007 | > |
| Bird | scissor-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) | 1951 | > |
| Game Bird | turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) | 1990 | > |
| Raptor | red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | 2018 | > |
| Animal | bison (Bison bison) | 1972 | > |
| Game Animal | white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) | 1990 | > |
| Furbearer | raccoon (Procyon lotor) | 1989 | > |
| Flying Mammal | Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) | 2006 | > |
| Heritage Horse | Oklahoma Colonial Spanish horse (Equus caballus) | 2014 | > |
| Reptile | mountain boomer or collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) | 1969 | > |
| Amphibian | bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) | 1997 | > |
| Fish | white bass, or sand bass (Morone chrysops) | 1974 | > |
| Insect | honeybee (Apis mellifera)  |
1992 | > |
| Butterfly | black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) | 1996 | > |
| Rock | rose rock (barite rose) | 1968 | > |
| Crystal | hourglass selenite crystal | 2005 | > |
| Fossil † | Saurophaganax maximus (Saurophaganax maximus) | 2000 | > |
| Dinosaur † | Acrocanthosaurus atokensis (Acrocanthosaurus atokensis) | 2006 | > |
| Soil | Port | 1987 | > |
| Cultural Symbols | |||
| Colors | green and white | 1915 | > |
| Monument | The Golden Driller | 1979 | > |
| Pin | “OK” pin | 1982 | > |
| Meal | Fried okra, squash, cornbread, barbecue pork, biscuits, sausage and gravy, grits, corn, strawberries, chicken fried steak, pecan pie, and black-eyed peas | 1988 | > |
| Beverage | milk |
1985 | > |
| Tartan | Oklahoma Tartan | 1999 | > |
| Folk Dance | square dance |
1988 | > |
| Folk Song | Oklahoma Hills | 2001 | > |
| Land Run Song | The Oklahoma Run | 2009 | > |
| Country Western Song | Faded Love | 1988 | > |
| Gospel Song | Swing Low, Sweet Chariot | 2011 | > |
| Inspirational Song | I Can Only Imagine | 2018 | > |
| Waltz | Oklahoma Wind | 1982 | > |
| Children’s Song | Oklahoma, My Native Land | 1996 | > |
| Rock Song (former) | Do You Realize? | 2009 | > |
| Musical Instrument | fiddle | 1984 | > |
| Percussive Musical Instrument | drum | 1993 | > |
| Western Band | The Sounds of the Southwest | 1997 | > |
| Theatre | Lynn Riggs Players of Oklahoma, Inc. | 1971 | > |
| Poem | Howdy Folks | 1973 | > |
| Cartoon Character | Gusty | 2005 | > |
| Caricature Artist | Teresa Farrington | 2005 | > |
Wood Art Capital of Oklahoma  |
Oklahoma Forest Heritage Center | 2010 | > |
| Vietnam War Memorial | Woodring Wall of Honor and Veterans Park, Enid | 2013 | > |
| Language | English |
2002 | > |
| Flag Salute | 2002 | > | |
In fact, Oklahoma has three state flowers, three official birds, five mammals, and far too many symbols of the arts. The most familiar is the state song and anthem, “Oklahoma,” from the famous musical.
Also of interest are Oklahoma’s earth symbols, which include two dinosaurs. There’s an interesting story behind Oklahoma’s state flags, as well. In fact, there’s a litte conspiracy mixed in with many of Oklahoma’s symbols.
If you think state flags and flowers are nothing more than trivia, guess again. A thorough exploration of the more than 1,500 items adopted as state symbols embraces geography, history, and psychology.
You have found the best state symbols website, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. The introduction above is adapted from Geobop’s State Symbols and My State Symbols Book, by far the biggest and most detailed state symbols references ever. You can learn still more about the symbols of the 50 states in the books Flag Quest and Grading the States. (Learn more about them here.)
After you spend some time exploring your favorite state’s symbols, you can come back here and tell us what you think about them.
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