Introduction to
New Hampshire Symbols

New Hampshire’s premier symbols are granite and mountains, which together figure in several state nicknames and official songs and merge in the official state emblem, which depicts a famous landform nicknamed the Old Man of the Mountains. To my way of thinking, granite is even complemented somehow by the state motto, “Live Free or Die.” I suppose it’s simply a solid, bedrock sort of sentiment.

Aside from the official language (English), residents have done an admirable job of choosing symbols that are both unique and representative. No other state is represented by New Hampshire’s state flower (purple lilac), tree (white birch), bird (purple finch), amphibian (red-spotted newt), butterfly (Karner blue butterfly), gem (smoky quartz) or several miscellaneous symbols.

If New Hampshire recognized official colors, they would likely be purple, as represented by the state flower and bird, and white, the color of both the state tree and the White Mountains.

Nicknames

New Hampshire’s nicknames revolve around its famous mountains. They include Granite State, White Mountain State, Switzerland of America and Mother of Rivers (for the rivers spawned in the mountains).

Flag, Motto & Song

New Hampshire’s state flag is rather typical, consisting of the state seal surrounded by a wreath of laurel leaves and mounted in the center of a dark blue field. The seal depicts a ship, reminding history buffs that New Hampshire isn’t landlocked.

New Hampshire boasts one of the more unique and spirited state mottoes: “Live Free or Die.” It’s particularly inspirational at a time when Americans’ civil liberties are being sacrificed in the name of an irrational war on terror.

New Hampshire’s state song boasts a relatively clever title: Old New Hampshire.

State Emblem

New Hampshire is one of the few states with an official emblem. It is essentially a silhouette of the Old Man of the Mountains, a rock outcrop that has long been the state’s most famous landmark.

Sadly, the Old Man of the Mountains finally succumbed to the elements, crumbling in May 2003.

Plants

New Hampshire/Introduction is one of twelve states (Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee) with two or more official flowers.

The purple lilac is New Hampshire’s original state flower. In 1991, the pink lady’s slipper was designated the official wildflower. Lady’s slippers also represent Minnesota and Prince Edward Island.

New Hampshire shares its state tree, the white birch, with Saskatchewan and Finland.

Animals

The purple finch serves as New Hampshire’s state bird.New Hampshire/Introduction is one of thirteen states (along with Saskatchewan and the nation of Honduras) that have adopted the white-tailed deer as an official symbol.

The red-spotted newt was named the official amphibian after a rather amusing and educational campaign. It rivals Vermont’s northern leopard frog as the northernmost state amphibian.

New Hampshire/Introduction is one of seven states (Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire and Vermont) with two official fishes. The brook trout and striped bass were named the official freshwater and saltwater fish, respectively.

(The brook trout is the most popular state fish in the northeastern United States, representing Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia. The striped bass represents Maryland, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and South Carolina.)

New Hampshire/Introduction is one of ten states (Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vermont) with two or more official insects. Ladybird beetles, or ladybugs, represent six states (Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio and Tennessee) and Latvia. New Hampshire chose the two-spot ladybug.

The beautiful Karner blue butterfly was designated the state butterfly in 1992.

Earth Symbols

New Hampshire adopted three geological symbols in 1985.New Hampshire/Introduction is one of six states and one nation (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vermont, Wisconsin and Finland) that have officially adopted granite as a symbol. Granite is the official state rock.

New Hampshire/Introduction is one of five states (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, New Hampshire and South Dakota) represented by quartz. New Hampshire calls smoky quartz its official gem.

Beryl was named the official state mineral.

Miscellaneous Symbols

New Hampshire’s miscellaneous symbols are dominated by eight “honorary state songs,” five of them adopted in 1977 alone. The state’s magnificent scenery apparently inspired New Hampshire’s Granite State, The Old Man of the Mountain, New Hampshire Hills and Autumn in New Hampshire.

The others are New Hampshire, My New Hampshire, New Hampshire Naturally, Oh, New Hampshire (You’re My Home) and The New Hampshire State March.

Skiing is the state sport, and it is best demonstrated by the official “New Hampshire Native,” perhaps clad in a tartan. (New Hampshire/Introduction is one of sixteen states with an official tartan.)

And last and least, New Hampshire/Introduction is one of two dozen states that call English their official language.

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