Welcome to Massachusetts! (Continued below)
Quick Index
flag, seal, motto, song | flower | tree | beans and berries | birds | mammals | reptile | fish | insect | shell | rocks, minerals & gems | fossil | soil | cultural symbols | symbols of the arts | political symbols
| Nicknames & Slogans | |||
| Nicknames | Bay State, Pilgrim State, Baked Bean State | ||
| Citizenry | Bay Staters | 1990 | |
| Symbols of State | |||
| Motto | Ense Petit Placidam Sub Libertate Quietem | > | |
| Song | All Hail to Massachusetts | 1981 | > |
| EcoSymbols | |||
| Flower | Mayflower (Epigaea repens) | 1918 | > |
| Tree | American elm (Ulmus americana) | 1941 | > |
| Berry | cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) | 1994 | > |
| Bean | baked navy bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) | 1993 | > |
| Bird | black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | 1941 | > |
| Game Bird | turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) | 1991 | > |
| Groundhog | Ms. G (Marmota monax) | 2014 | > |
| Marine Mammal | right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) | 1980 | > |
| Horse | Morgan Horse (Equus caballus) | 1970 | > |
| Dog | Boston Terrier (Canis lupus familiaris) | 1979 | > |
| Cat | Tabby Cat (Felis catus) | 1988 | > |
| Reptile | common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) | 2007 | > |
| Fish | cod (Gadus morhua) | 1974 | > |
| Insect | ladybug (Coccinellidae) | 1974 | > |
| Shell | New England Neptune (Neptunea lyrata) | 1987 | > |
| Mineral | babingtonite | 1971 | > |
| Gem | rhodonite | 1979 | > |
| Rock | Roxbury puddingstone | 1983 | > |
| State Building Rock and Monument Stone | granite | 1983 | > |
| Glacial Rock | Rolling Rock | 2009 | > |
| Fossil † | Dinosaur tracks (Eubrontes giganteus) | 1980 | > |
| Soil | Paxton | 1991 | > |
| Cultural Symbols | |||
| Colors | blue, green and cranberry | 2004 | > |
| Historical Rock | Plymouth Rock | 1983 | > |
| Explorer Rock | Dighton Rock | 1983 | > |
| Dessert | Boston cream pie | 1996 | > |
| Donut | Boston creme donut | 2003 | > |
| Cookie | chocolate chip cookie | 1997 | > |
| Muffin | corn muffin | 1986 | > |
| Beverage | cranberry juice | 1970 | > |
| Heroine | Deborah Sampson | 1983 | > |
| Folk Hero | Johnny Appleseed | 1996 | > |
| Inventor | Ben Franklin | 2006 | > |
| Sport | basketball | 2006 | > |
| Recreational and Team Sport | volleyball | 2014 | > |
| Vessel | Ernestina | 1994 | > |
| Tartan | 2002 | > | |
| Folk Dance | square dance  |
1990 | > |
| Folk Song | Massachusetts | 1981 | > |
| Patriotic Song | Massachusetts (Because of You Our Land is Free) | 1989 | > |
| Glee Club Song | The Great State of Massachusetts | 1997 | > |
| Ode | Ode to the Commonwealth | 2000 | > |
| Polka Song | Say Hello to Someone in Massachusetts | 1998 | > |
| Ceremonial March | The Road to Boston | 1985 | > |
| Poem | Blue Hills of Massachusetts | 1981 | > |
| Children’s Book | Make Way for Ducklings | 2003 | > |
| Children’s Author and Illustrator | Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss | 2003 | > |
| Artist | Norman Rockwell | 2008 | > |
| Blues Artist | Taj Mahal | 2006 | > |
| Language | English |
1975 | > |
| Peace Statue | Orange Peace Statue | > | |
| Veterans of Southeast Asia War Monument | Worcester, Desert Calm Committee, Inc. | 1993 | > |
| Vietnam War Memorial | Memorial in Worcester | 1990 | > |
| MIA/POW Memorial | Massachusetts National Cemetery MIA/POW Memorial | > | |
| Korean War Memorial | Charlestown Navy Yard Korean War Memorial | > | |
Whoa, Massachusetts! The Bay State has more than 60 state symbols, more than any other states except Tennessee and much bigger Texas.
My favorite Massachusetts symbols include the state flower and fish (Mayflower and cod), along with its official glacial rock, a cool designation. The official explorer rock, Dighton Rock, is a great symbol for conspiracy theorists to ponder.
However, I’m still scratching my head over the official dessert, donut, cookie and muffin. Does the word overkill come to mind? Actually, I love chocolate chip cookies. But I don’t like having to wade through a menagerie of symbols trying to find one.
How could a famously liberal state like Massachusetts have so many official state war memorials? Even more shocking, Massachusetts may have the most overtly racist—dare I say genocidal?—state flag in the nation, even beating out Confederate flags and Washington State’s slave-owner flag.
Fortunately, Massachusetts has joined a growing list of states that are searching for a new flag (and state seal).
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