Symbols | World
Books | Store | Blog
About | Contact

New Hampshire State Symbols

Welcome to colorful New Hampshire! If New Hampshire had official colors, what do you think they should be? I would choose gray, white, and blue for the nicknames Granite State, White Mountain State, and Mother of Rivers. (White also represents the state tree, the white birch.) I might add orange for the state’s beautiful fall foliage. (Continued below)

New Hampshire State Flag
Nicknames & Slogans
Nicknames The Granite State, White Mountain State, Switzerland of America, Mother of Rivers  
Citizenry New Hampshire Native 2002
Symbols of State
Motto Live Free or Die 1945
Song Old New Hampshire 1949
Emblem Old Man of the Mountain 1945
EcoSymbols
Flower purple lilac (Syringa vulgaris) 1919
Wildflower pink lady’s slipper (Cypripedium acaule) 1991
Tree white birch (Betula papyrifera) 1947
Fruit pumpkin (Cucurbita) 2006
Berry common blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) 2017
Vegetable white potato (Solanum tuberosum) 2013
Bird purple finch (Carpodacus purpureus) 1957
Raptor red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2019
Animal white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) 1983
Wildcat bobcat (Lynx-rufus) 2015
Dog Chinook (Canis lupus familiaris) 2009
Amphibian red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) 1985
Freshwater Fish brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) 1994
Saltwater Game Fish striped bass (Morone saxatilis) 1994
Insect two-spot ladybug (Adalia bipunctata) 1977
Butterfly Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa) 1992
Spider daring jumping spider (Phidippus audax) 2021
Mineral beryl 1985
Gem smoky quartz 1985
Rock granite 1985
Soil Marflow (unofficial) Unofficial
Cultural Symbols
Beverage apple cider 2010
Sport skiing 1998
Tartan 1995
Honorary State Song New Hampshire, My New Hampshire 1963
Honorary State Song New Hampshire Hills 1973
Honorary State Song Autumn in New Hampshire, New Hampshire’s Granite State, Oh, New Hampshire (You’re My Home), The Old Man of the Mountain, The New Hampshire State March 1977
Honorary State Song New Hampshire Naturally 1983
Honorary State Song Live Free or Die 2007
Language English Redundant Symbol 1995

Then again, purple is the color of the state flower and bird, the lilac and purple finch. Red is embraced by the state raptor and amphibian, the red-tailed hawk and red-spotted newt. Or perhaps you prefer the state flower or butterfly, the pink lady’s slipper and Karner blue butterfly.

One of New Hampshire’s most iconic symbols was a rock formation dubbed Old Man of the Mountain. It was named the official state emblem in 1945. Sadly, it later succumbed to the elements. Some citizens wanted to adopt a new flag featuring Old Man of the Mountain. Though New Hampshire could use a new flag, some think the Old Man of the Mountain doesn’t belong on a flag. What do you think?

* * * * *

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.

New Hampshire Symbols Store
Dress to impress! Check out the State Symbols Pro > New Hampshire Symbols Store.
United States Home United States Home