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List of Indiana state symbols
![Indiana is in the Great Lakes region of the U.S., in the northeastern-central part of the country.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Map_of_USA_IN.svg/220px-Map_of_USA_IN.svg.png)
The U.S. state of Indiana has 13 official state emblems, as well as other designated official and unofficial items. The majority of the symbols in the list are officially recognized and created by an act of the Indiana General Assembly and signed into law by the governor. They are listed in Indiana Code Title 1, Article 2, State Emblems which also regulates the appearance and applicable use of the items.[1]
Compared to other states, Indiana has few official symbols. The first symbol was the Seal of Indiana, which was made official in 1801 for the Indiana Territory and again in 1816 by the state of Indiana.[2] It served as the state's only emblem for nearly a century until the adoption of the state song in 1913.[3] For many years, Indiana was the only state without a flag. The official state banner was adopted in 1917, and renamed the state flag in 1955.[4] The newest symbol of Indiana is the state insect, the Say's firefly, designated in 2018.[5]
Insignia[]
Type | Symbol | Description | Year | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
Flag[6] | The flag of Indiana | Indiana's flag has a blue background with a torch in the center. The torch is surrounded by nineteen stars: the thirteen in the outer ring representing the original colonies, the five in the inner ring representing the next five states admitted (prior to Indiana), and the one on top of the torch representing Indiana. | 1917 | ![]() |
Motto[7] | The Crossroads of America | Indiana is the site of many cross-country roads, including the National Road and U.S. Route 41. | 1937 | ![]() |
Nickname[7] | The Hoosier State | Indiana residents are known as Hoosiers, a word of unknown origin. | Traditional | —
|
Seal[8] | The seal of Indiana | Indiana's seal depicts a setting sun, sycamore trees, a woodsman, and a jumping bison. | 1963 | ![]() |
Slogan[9][A] | Honest to Goodness Indiana | February 12, 2014 | —
|
Species[]
Type | Symbol | Description | Year | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bird[10][B] | Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis |
The male cardinal is bright red and the female is brown and dull red. They live in Indiana year-round. | 1933 | ![]() |
Flower[11][C] | Peony Paeonia |
The peony is a red, pink, or white flower that blooms in late May. It is grown throughout Indiana. | 1957 | ![]() |
Fossil[12] | American mastodon Mammut americanum |
Mastodons roamed Indiana starting about 2.5 million years ago, and they became extinct about 10,500 years ago. They're now the most common Ice Age fossil found in Indiana.[13] | 2022 | ![]() |
Insects[5] | Say's Firefly
Pyractomena angulata |
The males of this flying beetle species produce amber flashes of light at night to attract mates. It is named for New Harmony, Indiana naturalist Thomas Say. | March 23, 2018 | ![]() |
Tree[14] | Tulip tree Liriodendron tulipifera |
The tulip tree is also called the yellow poplar. It has a distinctive leaf shape and yellow, bell-shaped flowers. It is a tall tree and grows throughout Indiana. | March 3, 1931 | ![]() |
Geology[]
Type | Symbol | Description | Year | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
River[15] | Wabash River | The Wabash is the longest river in Indiana. It flows from Ohio across Northern Indiana until it forms the border between Indiana and Illinois. | 1996 | ![]() |
Soil[16] | Miami | Miami soil is used to grow corn and soybeans, Indiana's primary crops. It is a brown silt loam that is highly productive and widespread in Indiana. | —
|
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Stone[17] | Limestone | The Indiana variety of limestone, also called Salem or Bedford, is significantly quarried in south-central Indiana. It is a high-quality stone that has been used in buildings such as the Empire State Building and the Pentagon. A sculpture commemorating the state stone sits in the Indiana Statehouse. | 1971 |
Culture[]
The Indiana Senate approved a resolution naming water as the state beverage in 2007[18] renaming sugar cream pie "Hoosier Pie" and acknowledging it as "unofficial state pie" in 2009.[19]
Type | Symbol | Description | Year | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
Language[20][21] | English, American Sign Language | English is the native language of over 95% of the state's residents. | 1984, 1995 | —
|
Holidays[22] [23] [24] |
George Rogers Clark Day, February 25 (1779) Northwest Ordinance Day, July 13 (1787) Indiana Day, December 11 (1816) |
Celebrates the surrender of Fort Sackville Celebrates the adoption of the Northwest Ordinance Celebrates Indiana's admittance to the United States |
1975 1988 1925 |
![]() ![]() |
Poem[25] | "Indiana" | "Indiana" is by Arthur Franklin Mapes, the former Indiana State Poet Laureate. The poem describes the state's natural beauty. | 1963 | —
|
Song[26] | "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" By Paul Dresser |
This song describes the author's past along the Wabash River. | March 14, 1913 | ![]() |
Rifle[27] | Grouseland Rifle | Grouseland Rifle is one of the six remaining rifles made by gunsmith John Small in the early 1800s. | March 6, 2012 | |
Aircraft[28] | Republic P-47 Thunderbolt | The P-47 was built in Evansville by Republic Aviation | June 24, 2015 | ![]() |
Notes[]
- A The slogan was formerly Restart your engines,[29] alluding to the Indianapolis 500, which is begun with the quote "Gentlemen, start your engines." Prior to that it was "Enjoy Indiana".
- B At the time, the northern cardinal's scientific name was Richmondena Cardianalis Cardinalis. It was changed in 1983.[30]
- C From 1923 to 1931, the state flower was the flower of the tulip tree. From 1931 to 1957, the state flower was the Zinnia.[31]
See also[]
- Lists of United States state insignia
References[]
- ^ "IC 1-2". Indiana Code. Indiana Office of Code Revision. Archived from the original on November 18, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
- ^ "Indiana's State Seal—An Overview". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ Henderson, Clayton W. "Paul Dresser". Indiana Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2012-09-21. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
- ^ "Indiana's State Banner". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
- ^ a b "Say's Firefly to become state insect after bill lights its way through the Indiana House". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
- ^ "Indiana State Flag". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ a b "State emblems". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
- ^ "Indiana State Seal". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ "New state tourism slogan unveiled". Fox 59 News. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
- ^ "Indiana State Bird". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ "Indiana State Flower". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ "Indiana lawmakers name mastodon as first state fossil". WHAS-TV. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
- ^ "Indiana lawmakers name mastodon as first state fossil". WFYI. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
- ^ "Indiana State Tree". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ "Indiana State River". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ "Miami—Indiana State Soil" (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
- ^ "Indiana State Stone". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ "Senate Resolution 20, 2007". Indiana General Assembly. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
- ^ "Senate Resolution 59, 2009". Indiana General Assembly. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ "Indiana State Language". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ "Indiana State Language"
- ^ "IC 1-1-13". Indiana Code. State of Indiana. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- ^ "IC 1-1-14". Indiana Code. State of Indiana. Archived from the original on 2008-02-12. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- ^ "IC 1-1-10". Indiana Code. State of Indiana. Archived from the original on 2008-02-12. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- ^ "Indiana State Poem". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ "Indiana State Song". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ "Indiana sets sight on having official state rifle". indystar.com. March 7, 2012. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
- ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt Named Official State Aircraft of Indiana". WFIE-TV. June 24, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- ^ "Indiana Tourism Revs Up New Brand Campaign". Inside Indiana Business. Archived from the original on 2009-08-21. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- ^ Ritchison, Gary (1997). Wild bird guides. Stackpole Books. p. 2. ISBN 0-8117-3100-6. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- ^ "State Tree of Indiana". Indiana Woodland Steward. Purdue University. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-11-23.
External links[]
- "Indiana Code Title 1, Article 2 Table of Contents". Indiana General Assembly. Archived from the original on 2009-11-18. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- "State Emblems". Indiana Historical Bureau. Archived from the original on 2009-03-17. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- "Facts about Indiana: State Emblems". VisitIndiana.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-18. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- Indiana-related lists
- Lists of United States state symbols by state
- Symbols of Indiana