1

California - "Eureka"

Image: Chor Tsang

According to legend, after the Ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes discovered his groundbreaking principle, he happily proclaimed, " Eureka! " This expression, which means "I have found it," is almost as famous as Archimedes’ work, so it stands to reason that the State of California chose Eureka as its state motto.

The Golden State’s slogan references the California Gold Rush. It is believed that a miner who finally struck gold was as excited about his discovery as Good Old Archimedes was. While the California State Seal has included the word Eureka since its design in 1850, it was only adopted as the state’s official motto over a hundred years later, in 1963.

2

Kansas - "To the stars through difficulties"

Image: Taylor Hunt

In 1861, the State of Kansas adopted its official state seal which depicted a beautiful prairie at dawn, filled with hardworking Kansans under 34 stars and the Latin motto Ad Astra Per Aspera. Anyone who reads the English translation of this motto will immediately realize how perfectly it describes the industrious and resilient people of Kansas: Ad Astra Per Aspera means "To the stars through difficulties."

Our 34th state chose this phrase alongside its state seal in 1861, only a few months after the first Governor of Kansas delivered the inaugural "State of the State" address. Nowadays, this motto stands as a reminder of both the bravery and diligence of the state’s first settlers, as well as the hardships that Kansas had to go through in order to gain statehood.

3

Indiana - "Crossroads of America"

Image: Steven Van Elk

The phrase "Crossroads of America" has long been associated with the state of Indiana , particularly after a specific intersection in Terre Haute, where U.S. Highways 40 and 41 met. Over time, Indiana itself proudly embraced the title of "the Crossroads of America," eventually adopting it as the state motto in 1937.

Interestingly, while "Crossroads of America" is the state’s official motto, some Hoosier cities have adopted this phrase —or variants of it— as their respective city slogans. For instance, Indianapolis adopted the motto in 1988, to reference how the city serves as a junction of 4 different Interstate Highways.

4

West Virginia - "Mountaineers are always free"

Image: Sara Cottle

Have you ever reached the summit of a particularly steep mountain after hours of arduous trekking? If you had to describe that amazing feeling in one word, what would it be? We’ll leave you to ponder that while we tell you the first word that came into our minds: freedom.

Apparently, we share this feeling with the good people of West Virginia , since its motto reflects the freedom that its magnificent mountains and hills inspire. West Virginia’s motto is the Latin phrase Montani Semper Liberi, which means "mountaineers are always free." Furthermore, since one of West Virginia’s demonyms is "mountaineers," this phrase also speaks to the core of West Virginians’ identity.

5

New York - "Excelsior"

Image: ben o'bro

Any Marvel fan will associate this phrase with comic-book legend Stan Lee, after all, he made this word his catchphrase throughout his many media appearances. However, you might be surprised to learn that "Excelsior" is also New York’s official state motto, and it perfectly describes New Yorkers’ industrious and resilient nature.

"Excelsior" is a Latin word that’s commonly translated as "Ever Upward," but it can also mean "higher" or "superior." It is featured in New York’s coat of arms, which features the representations of Liberty and Justice standing above the state’s motto.

6

Montana - "Gold and Silver"

Image: Trevor Vannoy

Just like West Virginia, Montana pays tribute to its breathtaking mountains and landscapes with its motto. However, it focuses on another key aspect of its geography, more akin to its nickname: Montana’s motto Oro y Plata literally translates to "Gold and Silver," which is a direct reference to The Treasure State’s proud mining history.

Montana first included the phrase Oro y Plata on its State Seal many years before it was adopted as the state’s official motto. Shortly after Montana was declared an official U.S. territory in 1864, the newly formed state honored the gold rush that had led to its territorial status by including its two most precious metals into its State Seal. Finally, the state motto was officialized in 1865.

7

Tennessee - "Agriculture and Commerce"

Image: Nathan Anderson

It’s no secret that state mottos sometimes reference their state’s most prominent industry: As we mentioned before, Montana and California pay tribute to the mining that helped build their economies. In that regard, Tennessee is no exception; its state motto is incredibly straightforward, directly praising the industries that helped the Big Bend State grow.

Tennessee chose "Agriculture and Commerce" in 1987. In turn, this motto was directly taken from the State Seal, which was adopted in 1801. The seal shows both sides of this state’s industry, with "Agriculture" referenced by a bundle of wheat and a cotton plant, while "Commerce" is depicted by a riverboat, presumably trading goods.

8

Texas - "Friendship"

Image: Brandon Zanders

Texas’s state motto may only feature one word, but it singlehandedly describes an essential part of Texan history. Before we can delve into that, though, we have to take a quick look into the etymology of the name of this great state. The word Texas is believed to come from the Caddo word táy:shaʼ , which means "friend." Spanish settlers adopted this word for the area, spelling it as Texas or Tejas.

In that sense, Texas pays homage to its history with the single-word motto "Friendship." Not only that, while Texas is mostly known by the nickname "The Lone Star State," its official slogan is "The Friendly State."

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Vermont - "May the fourteenth star shine bright" & "Freedom and Unity"

Image: Eric Chen

Vermont is the only state on this list to feature two official mottos: "Freedom and Unity" and the Latin phrase " Stella quarta decima fulgeat, " which translates to "May the 14th Star Shine Bright." Interestingly, this last phrase is also the newest slogan to be made official, since it was elected as Vermont’s state motto in 2015.

In any case, both mottos represent Vermont’s individuality, strength, and, perhaps more importantly, its solidarity: "Freedom and Unity" describes Vermont’s mission to create a free and neighborly community, while "May the 14th Star Shine Bright" depicts the search of the common good throughout the entire state.

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Rhode Island - "Hope"

Image: Praswin Prakashan

We’ll end this article with probably the most beautifully simple American state motto. The State of Rhode Island has the single-word motto "Hope," which is also featured in its State seal. In tune with their long maritime history, the seal depicts a golden anchor emblazoned in a dark blue field.

The inspiration behind both Rhode Island’s state motto and seal is probably a biblical quote found in the New Testament, which reads "Hope we have as an anchor of the soul." Considering that this state was founded by a Christian minister seeking to escape religious persecution, this single word expresses a very powerful sentiment: the hope that people could find in this new land a place of refuge and freedom.

1

George Washington: Whiskey distiller

George Washington’s retirement after his second presidency (1797) was important in itself as it set a precedent for presidents only serving two terms —although this was only a tradition and not a legal limit until the ratification of the 22nd Amendment in 1951. Despite his enormous prestige, George Washington decided to retire from public life and returned to his Mount Vernon estate , focusing on agriculture and building a whiskey distillery that would become one of the biggest in the country. He was appointed General of the Army by President Adams in 1798, but he never actively served in that position.

2

John Adams: Farmer and writer

In 1801, John Adams retired to Massachusetts, where he would spend the rest of his life managing his estate and writing his autobiography . Reconciled with his former friend and long-time rival Thomas Jefferson, they exchanged letters and writings for more than a decade. After seeing the inauguration of his son, John Quincy Adams, as the 6th American president in 1825, Adams died on July 4, 1826. Famously, his last words were "Thomas Jefferson still survives", not knowing Jefferson had passed a few hours earlier.

3

Thomas Jefferson: Founder of the University of Virginia

After leaving the White House in 1809, Thomas Jefferson went back home to Monticello, Virginia, where he devoted his time to reading, writing, and science, while corresponding with many political figures of the time. In 1815, he sold his personal book collection to Congress to help replace the books burned by the British in 1814. A firm believer in education as a pillar of society, Jefferson envisioned a university where students could pursue studies not offered in other institutions. He chose the location, campaigned for the state charter, designed the buildings and the curriculum, and served as the first rector of the University of Virginia.

4

William H. Taft: Supreme Court Justice

Upon his retirement from office in 1913, Taft considered returning to the practice of law. However, he had appointed many federal judges —a few Supreme Court Justices included— which created a conflict of interest. Instead, he decided to accept a position as a lecturer at Yale University. In 1920, after Harding was elected president, Taft was offered a position as a Supreme Court Justice, and he accepted , making him the only person to be both President and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. After his appointment, Taft focused on organizing the legal system and making it more efficient, and campaigned for the construction of the Supreme Court building.

5

Grover Cleveland: Lawyer

After losing re-election in 1889, Cleveland took a position at a law firm in New York City and mostly stayed out of politics. A year before the 1892 election, however, he wrote a public letter against President Harrison’s economic policies that quickly made him a favored candidate and won him the Democratic nomination. After winning the election and serving his second term, Cleveland went back to practicing law. He is one of only two presidents to have served two non-consecutive terms.

6

Theodore Roosevelt: Explorer

After leaving office in 1909, Roosevelt led a safari expedition in Africa, where he hunted specimens for the Smithsonian Institution. After running for president in 1912 and losing to Woodrow Wilson, Roosevelt and his son Kermit embarked on a seven-month expedition across the jungles of Brazil to explore the Amazon Rive r. During the journey, Roosevelt contracted malaria and suffered from an infected leg wound, which nearly killed him. Back in America, he devoted his time to writing about politics and science, and actively campaigned for the war effort as the U.S. joined World War I.

7

Ulysses S. Grant: Writer

A hero of the Civil War and the Reconstruction era, Grant embarked on a two-year world tour after leaving office in 1877, where he was received by leaders such as Queen Victoria, Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck, and the Japanese Emperor Meiji. Back in America, he invested all of his savings into a Wall Street firm run by his son, but lost all of his money as a consequence of a Ponzi scheme. Penniless and diagnosed with terminal cancer, Grant started writing articles for magazines in order to raise money for his family , while also penning an autobiography, which he finished on his deathbed. The book was a major success, earning his family close to $450,000 and securing their future.

8

John Quincy Adams: Congressman

After retiring from office in 1829, John Quincy Adams returned to Congress, where he had previously served as senator, but this time as a member of the House of Representatives, being the only U.S. President to do this (Andrew Jackson is the only other former president to go back to Congress, but as a senator). Across 18 years and nine terms as a congressman, he became one of the leaders of the abolitionist cause, fighting to repeal a gag rule that prevented Congress from discussing slavery, and presenting several petitions for the abolition of slavery. Working as a congressman until the end, he died in the Capitol after suffering a stroke during a passionate debate against war.

9

Dwight D. Eisenhower: Cattle rancher

As many presidents did before him, Eisenhower retired to his farm after leaving office in 1961. However, he remained involved in politics, serving as an advisor to presidents such as Kennedy, Johnson, or Nixon . Despite having resigned his military commission upon becoming president, Eisenhower had his five-star general rank reinstated by President Kennedy, being the only president —except Washington— to re-enter the armed forces after the presidency.

10

George W. Bush: Oil painter

After leaving office in 2009, George W. Bush retired to his home in Texas. There, inspired by Winston Churchill’s essay "Painting as a Pastime", he took up oil painting , focusing on portraits of close friends, pets, and world leaders he had met while in office. In 2017, he released an art book focused on portraits of U.S. veterans and their stories.

1

Chili

From Nahuatl chīlli , referring to the hot pepper central to Mesoamerican cuisine.

Chili peppers shaped food traditions across the Americas. The word—and the plant—spread globally, influencing flavors from Asia to Europe.

2

Chocolate

"Chocolate" comes from the Nahuatl word xocolātl , used by the Aztecs for a bitter cacao drink.

Cacao was central to Mesoamerican culture, used in rituals, trade, and even as currency. Europeans adapted it—sweetening it and spreading it worldwide. Today, chocolate is a global industry worth billions.

3

Canoe

From the Carib kana:wa , "canoe" described small, lightweight boats used by Indigenous peoples across the Americas.

European explorers borrowed both the vessel and the word for river and coastal navigation. Today, "canoeing" is a popular recreational activity worldwide.

4

Hurricane

From the Taíno hurakán , meaning "god of the storm," the word was adopted by Spanish explorers.

Hurricanes shaped Caribbean history, influencing trade, settlement, and agriculture. English speakers retained the term, giving rise to a scientific and meteorological vocabulary.

5

Barbecue

From the Taíno barbacoa , describing a framework for slow-cooking meat over fire.

Barbacoa influenced American culinary traditions, evolving into the modern barbecue. The word traveled with colonists, preserving its Indigenous culinary roots.

6

Opossum

From the Powhatan apasum , meaning "white animal," early colonists mispronounced it as "opossum."

North American opossums became part of colonial diets and local ecosystems. The word also illustrates how Indigenous terms influenced wildlife terminology in English.

7

Pecan

From Algonquian pakan , meaning "nuts requiring a stone to crack."

Pecans were staple foods for Indigenous peoples, and European settlers adopted both the nut and its name. Today, pecans are central to American desserts like pies and pralines.

8

Squash

From Narragansett askutasquash , meaning "eaten raw or uncooked."

Squash was a foundational crop in the "Three Sisters" agricultural system alongside maize and beans. Europeans embraced the plant, retaining the Indigenous name.

9

Chipmunk

From Ojibwe ajidamoo , meaning "one who descends trees headfirst."

Colonists adapted both the word and the animal’s name, preserving the Ojibwe reference. Today, chipmunks are iconic North American wildlife.

10

Tomahawk

From Powhatan tamahak , describing a small axe used for hunting and combat.

European colonists adopted both the tool and the word, which became iconic in North American frontier history. Today, tomahawks are primarily ceremonial or sporting tools.

11

Coyote

From Nahuatl coyotl , describing a canid known for its adaptability and cunning.

Coyotes thrive in both urban and rural environments. The word entered English through Spanish, reflecting both biological and cultural observation.