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Oklahoma State Symbols

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)

Oklahoma State Flag
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) Redundant Symbol 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 Redundant Symbol 1985
Tartan Oklahoma Tartan 1999
Folk Dance square dance Redundant Symbol 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 Capital Oklahoma Forest Heritage Center 2010
Vietnam War Memorial Woodring Wall of Honor and Veterans Park, Enid 2013
Language English Redundant Symbol 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.

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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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