Note: I modified this picture, erasing portions of it.
Welcome to the Palmetto State! Leapin’ lizards! South Carolina boasts more symbols than almost any other state. In fact, lizards are just about the only things it hasn’t adopted as symbols. (Continued below)
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| Nicknames & Slogans | |||
| Nicknames | The Palmetto State, Swamp State, Rice State, Iodine State, Keystone of the South Atlantic Seaboard | ||
| Symbols of State | |||
| Motto | Animis Opibusque Parati | 1776 | > |
| Motto | Dum Spiro Spero | 1776 | > |
| Song | Carolina | 1911 | > |
| EcoSymbols | |||
| Flower | Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) | 1924 | > |
| Wildflower | goldenrod (Solidago altissima) | 2003 | > |
| Tree | sabal palmetto (Sabal palmetto) | 1939 | > |
| Grass | Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) | 2001 | > |
| Fruit | peach (Prunus persica) | 1984 | > |
| Vegetable | collard greens (Brassica oleracea) | 2011 | > |
| Bird | Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) | 1948 | > |
| Bird (former) | mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) | 1930 | |
| Wild Game Bird | turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) | 1976 | > |
| Duck | wood duck (Aix sponsa) | 2009 | > |
| Animal | white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) | 1972 | > |
| Marine Mammal | bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) | 2009 | > |
| Migratory Marine Mammal | northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) | 2009 | > |
| Dog | Boykin Spaniel (Canis lupus familiaris) | 1985 | > |
| Heritage Horse | Marsh tacky (Equus caballus) | 2010 | > |
| Heritage Work Animal | Mule (Equus asinus x Equus caballus) | 2010 | > |
| Reptile | loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) | 1988 | > |
| Amphibian | spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) | 1999 | > |
| Fish | striped bass (Morone saxatilis) | 1972 | > |
| Insect | Carolina mantid (Stagmomantis carolina) | 1988 | > |
| Butterfly | eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) | 1994 | > |
| Spider | Carolina wolf spider (Hogna carolinensis) | 2000 | > |
| Shell | lettered olive (Oliva sayana) | 1984 | > |
| Gem | amethyst | 1969 | > |
| Stone | blue granite | 1969 | > |
| Fossil † | Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi) | 2014 | > |
| Soil | Bohicket (unofficial)  |
> | |
| Cultural Symbols | |||
| Colors | indigo blue | 2009 | > |
| Snack Food | boiled peanuts | 2006 | > |
| Picnic Cuisine | barbecue | 2014 | > |
| Beverage | milk  |
1984 | > |
| Hospitality Beverage | tea | 1995 | > |
| Tartan | Carolina Tartan | 2002 | > |
| The Botanical Garden at Clemson University | Clemson Botanical Garden | 1992 | > |
| Hall of Fame | South Carolina Hall of Fame, Myrtle Beach Convention Center | 2001 | > |
| Railroad Museum | South Carolina Railroad Museum, Fairfield County | 1997 | > |
| Tobacco Museum | Tobacco Museum in the City of Mullins | 2004 | > |
| Dance | shag | 1984 | > |
| American Folk Dance | square dance |
1994 | > |
| The State Music | The Spiritual | 1999 | > |
| Popular Music | beach music | 2001 | > |
| Home of the Beach Music Hall of Fame | Coastal Carolina University | 2009 | > |
| Song | South Carolina on My Mind | 1984 | > |
| Waltz | Richardson Waltz | 2000 | > |
| Opera | Porgy and Bess | 2001 | > |
| Rural Drama Center | Abbeville Opera House | 2001 | > |
| Tapestry | From the Mountains to the Sea | 2000 | > |
| Lowcountry Handcraft | sweetgrass basket | 2006 | > |
| Folk Art and Crafts Center | South Carolina Artisans Center, Walterboro | 2000 | > |
| Military Academy | Camden Military Academy | 2001 | > |
| Flag Pledge | 1966 | > | |
| Language | English |
1987 | > |
The Palmetto State’s symbols include three birds, six mammals, a spider, and a pile of cultural symbols. The most obnoxious symbol is probably the official military academy. Where are we, Sparta?
South Carolina’s state flower and bird, the yellow jessamine and Carolina wren, are among my favorites. However, South Carolina’s premier symbol is the sabal palmetto. It serves as the state tree and is also the source of the nickname Palmetto State. A palmetto also appears on South Carolina’s flag, which is one of the most beautiful state flags.
South Carolina has more cool symbols, including the beautiful loggerhead sea turtle. However, wading through the entire menagerie is a little daunting. Still, you may find some nice surprises.
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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