List of Ohio State Symbols - State Symbols

State Symbols

State flag

Since 1902, the Buckeye State has had a flag unique in design amongst its domestic counterparts. The Ohio burgee – as a swallowtail shape flag is called—was designed by Cleveland architect, John Eisemann. The flag was first unveiled at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, a year before it was officially adopted by the Ohio General Assembly. Eisemann himself explained the flags symbolism:

The triangles formed by the main lines of the flag represent the hills and valleys as typified in the State Seal, and the stripes the roads and waterways. The stars, indicating the thirteen original states of the Union, are grouped about the circle which represents the Northwest Territory; and that Ohio was the seventeenth state admitted into the Union is shown by adding four more stars. The white circle with its red center, not only represents the initial letter of Ohio, but is suggestive of its being the Buckeye State.

To commemorate the centennial of the flag In 2002, the General Assembly adopted The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of Ohio: I salute the flag of the state of Ohio and pledge to the Buckeye State respect and loyalty. The pledge was designed to be given by Ohio residents following the Pledge of Allegiance.
State seal

While it has been revised several times over the centuries, the Great Seal of Ohio has always featured the devices specified in the act passed into law on March 25, 1803 by the first assembly of the state legislature:

On the right side, near the bottom, a sheaf of wheat, and on the left a bundle of seventeen arrows, both standing erect; in the background, and rising above the sheaf and arrows, a mountain, over which shall appear a rising sun. The state seal to be surrounded by these words: "The Great Seal of the State of Ohio".

The sheaf of wheat represents Ohio's agriculture; the seventeen arrows for Ohio being the seventeenth state admitted into the Union; the sun rising is an allusion to coming wealth and prosperity; the mountains, over which the sun rises, are symbolic of Ohio being the first state west of the Allegheny range; The river represents the Scioto River. The Great Seal was inspired by the view of the Scioto River Valley from the Adena Mansion (the first governor of Ohio's estate) in Chillicothe.
State tree

The official State Tree of Ohio is the Ohio Buckeye(Aesculus glabra). Perhaps the earliest example of what can be included as an official state symbol of Ohio was, at least until the mid-20th century, unofficial.

Ohio natives have long been referred to as Buckeyes, although the debate on when this exactly began is inconclusive. Historical sources point to at least two instances: the first of these involves Col. Ebenezer Sproat, the first sheriff in the Northwest Territory and Ohio Country in 1788. Sproat was dubbed hetuck (trans: buckeye) by the local Indians, whom he met with in Marietta and was ever after known as buckeye. The second notable occurrence—and arguably the more documented—began around the 1840 election of the one time army commander and eventual ill-fated 9th President of the United States, William Henry Harrison. Whig convention delegates for Harrison adorned themselves with various buckeye paraphernalia, which Harrison had chosen as his symbol.

The buckeye had also been the athletic nickname of the state's largest public university for decades before a 1953 act of the Ohio General Assembly recognized the Ohio Buckeye as the official state tree.
State flowers
Cultivated Flower
The State flower of Ohio is the Scarlet Carnation. On February 3, 1904, the Ohio General Assembly passed a resolution providing for a state flower to be chosen. The act naming the Carnation as the state flower specified the scarlet carnation for the memory of William McKinley. McKinley, who was assassinated in 1901, was one of seven Presidents born in Ohio. He was reported to have always worn a scarlet carnation in his lapel for good luck, after having received one—from his opponent—during his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. He won the election, and wore a carnation thereafter.

Wildflower
The Ohio Revised Code, General Provisions, Chapter 5, Section 5.021 names the Large White Trillium (trillium grandiflorum) the official wildflower of Ohio effective March 5, 1987. The deciding factor in the flower's being selected was that it can be found in all of Ohio's 88 counties.
State Bird
Ohio's state bird, the Cardinal (C. cardinalis), was designated the state bird by the General Assembly in 1933. It was then listed as effective in the Ohio Revised Code in 1953.
State Animal

The White-tailed deer (O. virginianus) became the official state wild animal in 1988.
State reptile
The Black Racer became the state reptile in 1995.
State Insect
7-spot ladybug, Coccinella septempunctata

The insect known as the 7-spot ladybug (or lady beetle), Coccinella septempunctata, was designated as the official state insect by Senate Concurrent Resolution 14, 111th General Assembly, 1975–1976 Session. It was designated Ohio's official insect by Public Chapter 896 of the 99th General Assembly. It is a species from Europe, and not native to North America.
State Fossil
The Isotelus maximus Trilobite became the official state invertebrate fossil in 1985.
State Gemstone
Ohio Flint became the official state gem stone in 1965.
State Prehistoric Monument

The Newark Earthworks became the official state prehistoric monument in 2006 by §5.073 of the Ohio Revised code.
State fruits
Fruit
Tomatoes became the state fruit in 2009.

Native Fruit
The Pawpaw became the state native fruit in 2009 as well.
State Beverage
Tomato juice became the state beverage through a bill passed in 1965.
Groundhog
Ohio's official Groundhog is named Buckeye Chuck.
U.S. Ship
The USS Ohio is a ballistic missile submarine, which is not only the name of the ship, but the official name of the class of submarine as well.

Read more about this topic:  List Of Ohio State Symbols

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