List of Kentucky state symbols
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a list of symbols of the United States Commonwealth of Kentucky. These insignia are determined by acts of the Kentucky General Assembly and recorded in Title I, Chapter 2 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes.[1] The state's nickname – "The Bluegrass State" – is traditional, but has never been passed into law by the General Assembly. It does, however, appear on the state's license plates. Also, despite the popular nickname, the General Assembly has not designated bluegrass (or any other grass) as the official state grass.
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[edit] Symbols
| "I pledge allegiance to the Kentucky flag, and to the Sovereign State for which it stands, one Commonwealth, blessed with diversity, natural wealth, beauty, and grace from on High." Pledge of allegiance to the flag of Kentucky |
| Insignia | Description | Year Adopted | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Flag | The official state flag of the Commonwealth of Kentucky shall be of navy blue silk, nylon, wool or cotton bunting, or some other suitable material, with the seal of the Commonwealth encircled by a wreath, the lower half of which shall be goldenrod in bloom and the upper half the words "Commonwealth of Kentucky," embroidered, printed, painted, or stamped on the center thereof. The dimensions of the flag may vary, but the length shall be one and nine-tenths (1 9/10) times the width and the diameter of the seal and encirclement shall be approximately two-thirds (2/3) the width of the flag.[2] | 1928 |
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| State Seal | The seal of the Commonwealth shall have upon it the device, two (2) friends embracing each other, with the words "Commonwealth of Kentucky" over their heads and around them the words, "United We Stand, Divided We Fall."[3] | 1792 |
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[edit] Mottos, slogan, and nickname
| Insignia | Symbol | Year Adopted |
|---|---|---|
| State motto | United we stand, divided we fall | 1942 |
| Official State Latin Motto | Deo gratiam habeamus
(Let us be grateful to God) |
2002 |
| State Nickname | The Bluegrass State | Traditional |
| Official State Slogan | Kentucky: Unbridled Spirit | 2004[4] |
[edit] Species
| Insignia | Symbol | Binomial nomenclature | Year Adopted | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official State Bird | Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | 1926 |
 |
| Official State Butterfly | Viceroy Butterfly | Limenitis archippus | 1990 |
 |
| Official State Fish | Kentucky Spotted Bass | Micropterus punctulatus | 2005 |
 |
| Official State Flower | Goldenrod | Soldiago gigantea | 1926 |
 |
| Official State Fruit | Blackberry | Rubus allegheniensis | 2004 |
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| State Grass | Kentucky Bluegrass | Poa pratensis | Traditional |
 |
| Official State Horse | Thoroughbred | Equus caballus | 1996 |
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| Official State Tree | Tulip Poplar | Lirodendroan tulipifera | 1994 |
 |
| Official Wild Animal Game Species | Gray Squirrel | Sciurus carolinensis | 1968 |
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[edit] Geologic formations
| Insignia | Symbol | Year Adopted |
|---|---|---|
| Official State Fossil | Brachiopod | 1985 |
| Official State Gemstone | Freshwater Pearl | 1986 |
| Official State Mineral | Coal | 1998 |
| Official State Rock | Kentucky Agate | 2000 |
| Official State Soil | Crider Soil Series | 1990 |
[edit] Music and dance
| Insignia | Symbol | Year Adopted |
|---|---|---|
| Official State Dance | Clogging | 2001 |
| Official State Outdoor Musical | "The Stephen Foster Story" (now called "Stephen Foster - The Musical") | 2002 |
| Official State Instrument | Appalachian Dulcimer | 2001 |
| Official State Song | "My Old Kentucky Home"
(revised version) |
1986 |
| Official State Bluegrass Song | Blue Moon of Kentucky | 1988 |
| Official State Music | Bluegrass music | 2007[5] |
| Official pipe band | Louisville Pipe Band | 2000 |
[edit] Places and events
| Insignia | Place / Event | Location | Year Adopted |
|---|---|---|---|
| State arboretum | Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest | Clermont | 1994 |
| State botanical garden | University of Kentucky-Fayette County Arboretum | Lexington | 2000 |
| State Science Center | Louisville Science Center | Louisville | 2002 |
| State center for celebration of African American heritage | Kentucky Center for African American Heritage | Louisville | 2002 |
| State honey festival | Clarkson Honeyfest[6] | Clarkson | 2006 |
| State amphitheater | Iroquois Amphitheater | Louisville | 2001 |
| State tug-o-war championship | The Fordsville Tug-of-War Championship | Fordsville | 1990 |
| Covered Bridge Capital of Kentucky | Fleming County | 1998 | |
| Official Covered Bridge of Kentucky | Switzer Covered Bridge | Franklin County | 1998 |
| State bourbon festival | Kentucky Bourbon Festival | Bardstown | 2000 |
[edit] Miscellaneous
| Insignia | Symbol | Year Adopted |
|---|---|---|
| State language | English | 1984 |
| Official State Beverage | Milk | 2005 |
| Official State Silverware Pattern | Old Kentucky Blue Grass: The Georgetown Pattern | 1996 |
| Official steam locomotive of Kentucky | "Old 152" | 2000 |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Kentucky Revised Statutes: Title I, Chapter 2. Legislative Research Commission (2007-06-26). Retrieved on 2007-07-05.
- ^ KRS 2.030: State flag (PDF). Legislative Research Commission. Retrieved on 2007-07-03.
- ^ KRS 2.020: State seal (PDF). Legislative Research Commission. Retrieved on 2007-07-03.
- ^ Unbridled Spirit Information. Kentucky.gov (2006-11-20). Retrieved on 2006-12-18.
- ^ HB71: An act designating bluegrass music as the official state music of Kentucky (DOC). Legislative Research Commission. Retrieved on 2007-06-26.
- ^ KRS 2.099 - State Honey Festival (PDF). Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved on 2006-12-18.
[edit] External links
- Kentucky's State Symbols. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives (2007-03-30). Retrieved on 2007-07-02.
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