Introduction to
Delaware Symbols

It would be difficult for the second smallest state to put together a roster of truly unique state symbols, given its geographic location. Yet Delaware has done a surprisingly good job. It’s hard to discern a major theme among its symbols; together, they simply spell Delaware.

Actually, the state tree, bird and several nicknames nudge Delaware’s symbols towards the history department. The Blue Hen Chicken recalls the Revolutionary War, though some historians argue that its roots lie elsewhere. The holly recalls both Christmas and a largely abandoned cottage industry that sprung up around it.

Delaware’s state flower, the peach, similarly recalls a bygone industry; today, the peach is more popularly associated with Georgia, which is nicknamed the Peach State and adopted the peach as its official fruit. Delaware also adopted the sweet goldenrod as its official herb. Goldenrods also represent Kentucky and Nebraska, but no state recognizes the designation “official herb.”

No other state calls the weakfish its state fish.

The Invertebrate State?

Delaware is the only state with three official insects. (Tennessee designated four!) The convergent ladybug and tiger swallowtail butterfly aren’t terribly distinctive; they’re among the most popular state symbols in the East and the South.

However, Delaware is the only state that recognizes an official “macroinvertebrate,” the stonefly. Perhaps official freshwater invertebrate would have been a better designation. The official marine animal, the horseshoe crab, could then be redesignated the official marine invertebrate. Either way, the horseshoe crab is in a class all by itself.

Remote Nature Symbols

Delaware similarly adopted one of the more unique state fossils, again choosing a marine invertebrate. The honor went to the belemnite, sort of a prototype of modern squids.

One of Delaware’s coolest symbols is the Delaware Diamond, adopted as the official star. The only other state with an official star is Utah, though the North Star is everything but an official symbol in Minnesota and Alaska.

Since it takes a long time for light emitted from stars in other galaxies to reach our galaxy, they can be considered prehistoric symbols, posing an intriguing question: Which evolved first, the Delaware Diamond, horseshoe crab or belemnites?

Roots

Sillimanite isn’t the most exciting state mineral, but it is at least a unique designation. Milk is perhaps the worst of Delaware’s state symbols. It has been adopted by many other states and says nothing about Delaware’s present or past.

In contrast, the official colors (blue and buff) and state motto (Liberty and Independence) are additional reminders of the Revolutionary War, which launched Delaware as both the First State and the Diamond State.

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