1

Oregon: Official microbe

In 2013, Oregon became the first state to declare an official state microbe, Saccharomyces cerevisiae . While this might seem bizarre, it relates to an important part of Oregonian identity: their craft beer. Commonly known as brewer's yeast or baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a fungus instrumental to brewing and winemaking , and therefore a key element in Oregon’s history and economy.

2

Nebraska: Kool-Aid, official soft drink

As the birthplace of Kool-Aid, Nebraska has made sure to include this popular drink among its symbols. Nebraska is one of at least 20 states with milk as their official beverage, but Kool-Aid has a category of its own. Designated as the state’s official soft drink , it is celebrated annually in the city of Hastings, where it was developed in 1927.

3

Maryland: Jousting, official sport

Maryland was the first state to adopt an official state sport in 1962, and the choice was peculiar, but rooted in the state’s history. Jousting was brought from England by Maryland’s first governor, Cecil Calvert, second Lord Baltimore (1605–1675). Originally a combat sport between mounted knights, it developed into a show of horsemanship where mounted contestants try to spear hanging rings , and became extremely popular among farmers in the 19th century. For those not interested in medieval tournaments, Maryland has also chosen Lacrosse as its official team sport.

4

Illinois: Tully Monster, official fossil

Despite its name, the Tully Monster is not Illinois’ official cryptid, but its official fossil. Discovered in 1958 in a coal mine by Francis Tully, it is believed to have lived around 300 to 310 million years ago. Going by the scientific name Tullimonstrum , the Tully monster was a marine creature, although scientists are unable to determine if it was a vertebrate or invertebrate. The Tully monster is the only fossil that is native to Illinois, and has become a local celebrity.

5

Utah: Jell-O, official snack

Jell-O is a beloved snack for many Americans, but Utah leads the race when it comes to consumption, which has led to the designation of Jell-O as the state’s official snack. But why is this dessert so popular among Utahns? According to some sources, Jell-O’s marketing in the 1960’s was centered around being affordable, tasty, and light, which made it perfect for Mormon families with many children.

6

Tennessee: "My Homeland, Tennessee" and 15 other official songs

Forty-nine out of 50 states have an official song (New Jersey is the exception), and some have even two or three. Tennessee, however, has 16 different officially designated state songs , which shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the state’s musical history, especially when it comes to country music. The first designated song, "My Homeland, Tennessee", was adopted in 1925. In 1996, the song "A Tennessee Bicentennial Rap: 1796-1996" was adopted during the bicentennial celebration of the state, under the special title of "official bicentennial rap song".

7

Mississippi: Teddy bear, official toy

You might know that teddy bears owe their name to President Theodore Roosevelt, but did you know that the story behind it happened in Mississippi? During a hunting trip in the Mississippi Delta in 1902, Roosevelt famously refused to shoot a bear that had been injured and tied for the sole purpose of him shooting it — which he considered to be unsportsmanlike . After a cartoon poked fun at the incident, a New York City store owner started selling stuffed bear toys under the name "Teddy’s bears". In honor of the Mississippian origin of the toy, teddy bears were designated the official state toy of Mississippi in 2002.

8

New Mexico: Tarantula hawk wasp, official insect

Most states have a designated official insect, usually some species of butterfly, bee, or an equally lovely insect. New Mexico, however, stands out from the rest with its choice of the tarantula hawk wasp, named after their behavior of paralyzing tarantulas to hunt them . An insect key in controlling the spider population of the Southwest, it was chosen as part of an elementary school kids' initiative, where three insect candidates were chosen and voted on in schools across the state.

9

Oklahoma: Gusty, official cartoon character

Oklahoma’s official cartoon character, Gusty, a lively and round wind figure who changes according to the weather, was actually born in Kansas under the name "Windy". Drawn by meteorologist Don Woods as part of his TV weather forecast, it was redesigned and renamed "Gusty" when Woods moved to Oklahoma and to a new TV channel. A part of Oklahoma’s weather reports for 35 years, Gusty was designated as the state’s official cartoon character in 2005.

10

Vermont: Maple, state flavor

Maple is a recurring theme in New England and Northeastern state symbols, usually as a tree. The state of Vermont has the sugar maple as its official state tree, but has also designated maple as its state flavor, the only state to have this category. But unusual symbols seem to be the norm in Vermont: when declaring apple pie as the official state pie (surprisingly not shared with other states), the law explicitly stated that Vermonters should make a "good faith effort" to serve it accompanied by milk, vanilla ice cream, or half an ounce of cheddar cheese.

1

Bison

Image: Alex Moliski

We’ll begin with the national mammal of the United States. Actually, that might be a bit reductive: the bison is not just a national symbol, but it has also been chosen as representative by a plethora of institutions, including the U.S. Department of the Interior, the University of Colorado, and several Great Plains states.

Since the end of the 19th century, indiscriminate hunting made the bison an extremely endangered species: By 1884, only 325 bison remained in the country. Luckily, thanks to the hard work of several conservation agencies, that number has gradually increased over the years, reaching a population of 500,000 bison by 2017.

2

Prairie dog

Image: Moritz Kindler

Here’s a question for any biologist reading this article: Why, pray tell, are prairie dogs not called "prairie squirrels"? While these mammals possess little to no dog-like features, they are definitely a close relative of squirrels. In fact, they belong to the same family. Food for thought, right?

In any case, prairie dogs are proof that an animal doesn’t have to be big to be important. All five species are considered keystone species to their environments, as their burrowing and mound-building help renew and revitalize the soil of their habitats. Not only that, they are extremely important components of the food chain, since they provide sustenance to many predators.

3

Alligator

Image: Matthew Essman

From the warm weather of the American South comes the only reptile on this list. Alligators are truly fascinating creatures: not only do they date back to the age of dinosaurs, but they can also only be found in 2 countries in the entire world—China and, of course, the United States.

While they are certainly deadly predators, don’t let their ferocity fool you: they rarely attack humans, and only when disturbed. Moreover, alligators are key species in maintaining their habitats, not just through population control, but also by encouraging plant diversity through the construction of alligator holes.

4

Grizzly bear

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

Anyone who has looked at a picture of a bear has probably thought in disbelief, "How can something that looks this adorable be so dangerous?" While this philosophical conundrum might be the reason that Teddy bears are so popular, the truth is that the grizzly bear is a perfect representative of the duality found in most of these large mammals: a combination of extreme cuteness with dangerous ferocity.

In that sense, we only need to take a look at the etymology of the grizzly bear to find the feral nature of this seemingly adorable creature. When Lewis and Clark first encountered these bears, they recorded their name as "grisley," which many believe comes from a Middle English word for "gruesome."

5

Gray wolf

Image: Anthony Sebbo

Many biologists consider the gray wolf the unsung hero of American wildlife. This majestic hunter is a keystone species in Yellowstone National Park, helping to maintain the elk and deer populations. And while it has notably appeared in many blankets and t-shirts, the gray wolf, sadly, has not been recognized as any state’s official mammal.

Originally, grey wolves’ range covered approximately two-thirds of America, but they can currently be found in the northern part of the country. Most notably, Alaska houses the largest wolf population in the country, with a number between 7,000 and 11,000 wolves roaming the state.

6

Turkey

Image: Tyler Jamieson Moulton

There’s an urban legend that states that Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey to be our national symbol. If the stories are true, there might very well be a universe in which this odd-looking bird represents Americans everywhere. And although we’ll take the bald eagle as a symbol any day of the week, there’s something to be said about the nobility of this game bird.

Unlike their domesticated counterparts, wild turkeys are more adept at flying. Although we may never see a majestic turkey soar through the skies, they are able to fly short distances of up to a quarter mile. What’s perhaps most impressive about these birds is their wide range of vocalizations, which may sound like a simple "gobble, gobble" to us, but convey numerous meanings to other turkeys.

7

Groundhog

Image: Andy Sanchez

Sure, Beverly Hills might be the home of Hollywood’s royalty, but the borough of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is home to one of America’s most famous stars. Since 1887, a groundhog by the name of Phil (Punxsutawney Phil, to be exact) has been the key figure in the town’s most famous tradition: "Groundhog Day," a celebration in which Phil predicts when will winter end.

While Punxsutawney Phil is perhaps America’s most famous groundhog, the truth is that these quirky rodents are one of America’s most recognizable animals. Interestingly, groundhogs are also known as "woodchucks," which is a rather baffling name, since these creatures are not known for chucking wood of any kind.

8

Florida panther

Image: Maheera Kulsoom

The alligator might be Florida’s most famous animal, but this large cat shouldn’t be overlooked. The Florida panther is the only cougar species living in the Eastern United States, with a worrying 200 individuals currently living in the Sunshine State.

This majestic cougar is a source of pride for many Floridians, and numerous conservation campaigns have been launched over the years to help protect its habitat. The Florida panther was named the state’s official animal in 1982, as well as being the namesake of the South Florida ice hockey team.

9

Roadrunner

Image: Anish Lakkapragada

Isn’t it strange not to see a coyote included in the title of this entry? We feel bad about separating this iconic pair, but we are sure you’ll agree that the roadrunner is an amazing bird in its own right, even becoming New Mexico’s official state bird in 1949.

Warner Bros. cartoons quickly capitalized on this bird’s most remarkable feature: its running speed. Roadrunners can reach speeds of up to 20 mph, which comes in great help for hunting and running away from predators (like a certain coyote).

10

Bald eagle

Image: Michael Jerrard

The bald eagle shares the title of "most instantly recognizable American symbol" with the American flag and Mount Rushmore. Its status sometimes makes us forget about the spectacular specimen hiding behind the American icon, so we thought it would be a good idea to close this article with a small tribute to our favorite bird of prey.

Let’s start with the obvious: the name "bald eagle" doesn’t come from any distinct lack of plumage, but rather from the old meaning of the word "bald," which used to stand for "white-headed." This distinction seems necessary because one of the most breathtaking aspects of this bird is the contrast of its feathers, which produces a stunning image when paired with its yellow beak. For a while, the status of the bald eagle was endangered until its population recovered thanks to conservation efforts.

1

Florida – Meter feeding for elephants

Image: AJ Robbie

Florida’s traffic code once required that if you tied your elephant, goat, or alligator to a parking meter, you had to pay the fee, just as you would for a car. It sounds wild today, but it’s rooted in a time when people actually rode animals into town.

Though it’s not actively enforced (we checked), the law technically still lingers on the books. So, you'd better leave your pet elephant behind from now on!

2

Idaho – Seniors and motorcycles don’t mix

Image: Harley-Davidson

In Idaho Falls, it’s long been rumored that a local ordinance makes it illegal for anyone over 88 to ride a motorcycle. That sounds oddly specific—and a bit ageist. Whether it was meant to encourage safety, misinterpreted, or inspired by one daredevil granny, no one’s quite sure.

While there's no sign of active enforcement (or even proof it still exists), the message seems clear: once you’re nearing 90, it might be time to stick to the golf cart.

3

Arizona – Don’t even think about driving in reverse

Image: Jerry Kavan

Arizona doesn't mess around when it comes to driving in reverse. On public roads, moving backward is a big no-no. While it’s unlikely you’ll get arrested for backing out of a driveway, pulling a full-speed reverse cruise down Main Street might land you in hot water. Arizona wants you to move forward in life—literally.

4

Illinois – You need a steering wheel to drive

Image: Zach Wiley

Well, isn’t that obvious? Apparently not—because Illinois actually has a law stating that you can’t drive a car without a steering wheel.

Even if it seems like common sense, laws like this were created during the early days of car modifications, when people got creative (and sometimes reckless). So, if you were planning to steer your car using a rope-and-pulley system… maybe don’t.

5

Maine – No Sunday car shopping

Image: Hilbert Hill

In Maine, it’s illegal to buy a car on Sunday. Dealerships are closed by law, making it impossible to seal the deal on the most relaxing day of the weekend. Why? The rule has roots in so-called "blue laws," which were designed to preserve Sunday as a day of rest. So in Maine, if you get a wild urge to car shop after church, you’ll have to wait until Monday.

6

Michigan – Streets are not for reading

Image: bruce mars

Michigan has a law that says you can’t sit in the middle of the road and read a newspaper. Yeah, no joke!

We know—it’s hard to imagine someone actually doing this (unless it was a very juicy headline), but the law’s goal is clearly about safety. Still, you have to admit the mental image is pretty great—just don’t try it unless you want to make the evening news.

7

New Hampshire – Bus fumes are not a high

Image: Lizgrin F

New Hampshire takes a hard stance on inhaling bus fumes "with intent to cause euphoria." That’s a legal phrase, not a band name. It’s part of the state’s broader anti-huffing laws, aimed at curbing substance abuse.

Well, that’s odd!

8

Vermont – Backfiring is a no-go in Rutland

Image: RoonZ nl

In Rutland, Vermont, letting your car backfire could technically get you in trouble. This law was probably put in place to cut down on noise or prevent panic during quieter times in history.

Today, it’s unlikely to get you arrested, but a surprise backfire might still earn you some serious side-eye from the locals. If you ask us, this should be a law everywhere!

9

Wisconsin – Hands off the handlebars? Not allowed

Image: Darko Pribeg

In Wisconsin, you’re not allowed to ride a bicycle with no hands. Even if you’re showing off your balance skills from the 1970s, the law says at least one hand must stay on the handlebars.

It’s all about safety—but if you’re feeling rebellious, maybe show off at the park. Just don’t do it on public roads. Keep it hands-on!

10

South Carolina – No trash hoarding in Hilton Head

Image: Alireza Mirzabegi

In Hilton Head, it’s illegal to store trash in your car. That’s right—your vehicle can’t double as a mobile garbage can. The law aims to keep the area clean and tourist-friendly, but it also sounds like a not-so-subtle jab at anyone using their backseat as a trash bin. Hilton Head wants pristine beaches and clean cars!