My favorite Missouri state symbols are the eastern bluebird, mule, paddlefish and the nicknames Show Me State and Cave State. Most of the remaining symbols seem somehow boring...but that’s just my personal opinion.
Compared to some states, it’s hard to discern any theme among Missouri’s symbols, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The nicknames Cave State and Ozark State, together with the official musical instrument, the fiddle, call attention to the scenic Ozark highlands, which Missouri shares with Arkansas. (Arkansas also adopted the fiddle as a state symbol.)
Nicknames, Mottoes & Song
Missouri is most popularly known as the Show Me State. The origins of this nickname are uncertain, but it has come to represent Missourians’ stalwart, conservative character. To me, it suggests a certain stubbornness, which nicely complements the mule, Missouri’s state animal.
Geography, geology and mining inspired the nicknames Bullion State, Lead State, Cave State and Ozark State.
Missouri boasts one of those long-winded Latin mottoes that translate into an even longer English version that’s too pretentious to be really inspirational. Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto means “Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law.”
The state song is the Missouri Waltz.
Plants
Missouri shares its state flower, the hawthorn, with no other state. Its state tree is the American dogwood, which also represents New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia as state flower or tree.
Missouri/Introduction is one of five states (Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Oregon and Texas) that have designated official nuts. Missouri chose the black walnut.
Missouri and North Carolina have both adopted grapes as official fruits, Missouri choosing the Norton/Cynthiana grape.
Animals
The eastern bluebird is the state bird of both Missouri and New York.
Missouri/Introduction is one of seventeen states with two or more official mammals. The mule is Missouri’s official animal, while the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse was adopted as the official horse. The mule is also a symbol of the Democratic Party, a reminder that former President Bill Clinton is from Arkansas.
The bullfrog is the official amphibian of Missouri and Oklahoma.
Missouri/Introduction is one of seven states (Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire and Vermont) with two official fishes. The channel catfish represents five states (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Tennessee). Designated the official aquatic animal, the paddlefish ranks as one of the most unique and spectacular state fishes.
Missouri/Introduction is one of sixteen states that have adopted the introduced honeybee as an official symbol, typically with the backing of the honey industry.
Earth Symbols
Galena (lead) is the official mineral of both Missouri and Wisconsin. Mozarkite is Missouri’s state rock.
Missouri is one of several states with two official fossils. The crinoid Delocrinus missouriensis was named the official fossil, while Hypsibema missouriensis was adopted as the official dinosaur in 2004. Hypsibema is a hadrosaur, or duck-billed dinosaur.
Miscellaneous Symbols
Missouri/Introduction is one of two dozen states that call English their official language. Missouri also belongs to the square dance club.
More unique are its official musical instrument and day, the fiddle and Missouri Day (the third Wednesday in October).
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