Welcome to Illinois! (Continued below)
Quick Index
flag, seal, motto, & song | flowers | trees | grass & corn | fruit | bird | mammal | reptile & amphibian | fish | insect | mineral | fossil | soil | cultural symbols
| Nicknames & Slogans | |||
| Nicknames | The Prairie State, Corn State | ||
| Slogan | The Land of Lincoln | 1955 | |
| Symbols of State | |||
| Motto | State Sovereignty, National Union | > | |
| Song | Illinois | 1925 | > |
| EcoSymbols | |||
| Flower | violet (Violaceae) | 1907 | > |
| Wildflower | milkweed (Asclepias) | 2017 | > |
| Tree | white oak (Quercus alba) | 1973 | > |
| (former) | oak (Quercus) | 1908 | |
| Prairie Grass | big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) | 1989 | > |
| Grain | corn (Zea mays) | 2017 | > |
| Vegetable | sweet corn | 2015 | > |
| Fruit | Gold Rush Apple (Malus domestica) | 2007 | > |
| Bird | cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | 1929 | > |
| Animal | white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) | 1982 | > |
| Reptile | painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) | 2005 | > |
| Amphibian | eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) | 2005 | > |
| Fish | bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) | 1986 | > |
| Insect | monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) | 1975 | > |
| Mineral | fluorite | 1965 | > |
| Fossil † | Tully Monster (Tullimonstrum gregarium) | 1989 | > |
| Soil | Drummer | 2001 | > |
| Cultural Symbols | |||
| Artifact | pirogue | 2016 | > |
| Snack Food | popcorn | 2004 | > |
| Pie | pumpkin pie | 2015 | > |
| Exercise | cycling | 2017 | > |
| Pet | shelter dogs and cats | 2017 | > |
| Tartan | Illinois Saint Andrew Society tartan | 2012 | > |
| Dance | square dance  |
1990 | > |
| Theater | The Great American People Show | 1995 | > |
| Language | English |
1969 | > |
| (former) | American | 1923 | |
Before you dismiss Illinois as just another boring state in the Midwest, take a look at its symbols. Whan on Earh is a Tully monster? And why did Illinoisans adopt corn as a symbol three times?
Illinois is nicknamed The Land of Lincoln, yet its state motto alludes to states’ rights, not slavery. Is that a subtle reminder that Lincoln was, believe it or not, a racist?
I prefer the nickname Prairie State, which is complemented by Illinois’ official state grass, insect, and wildflower—big bluestem, the monarch butterfly, and milkweed.
Illinois is among the growing number of states that are taking a fresh look at their flags. Illinois’ flag doesn’t appear to be racist, and it’s far from the ugliest state flag. Still, there is a lot of room for improvement.
What is your favorite Illinois symbol, and what do you think a new Illinois flag should look like?
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