List of Arkansas state symbols

The state of Arkansas has numerous symbols.

Though two other songs are designated as "state songs" (plus a "state historical song" which was the state song from 1949 to 1963), by state law, the secretary of state must respond to any requests for "the state song" with the music of the state anthem, "Arkansas", which was the state song before 1949 and from 1963 to 1987, when it became state anthem and the other songs gained their present status. This is strictly to preserve the status of "Arkansas"; all four songs are either copyrighted by the state itself or in the public domain. The oldest symbol is the Apple blossom, designated in 1901. The most recently designated symbol is the Cotton Belt 898, designated in 2021.

Insignia

Further information: List of U.S. state, district, and territorial insignia
Type Symbol Year Image Source
Flag The Flag of Arkansas
Seal The Great Seal of the State of Arkansas
Anthem "Arkansas"
by Eva Ware Barnett 		1987 — [1]
Historical song "The Arkansas Traveler"
by Sandford C. Faulkner 		1987 [1]
Motto Regnat Populus
"The People Rule" 		1907 — [2]
Nickname "The Natural State" 1953[3]
Language English 1987[4]
Song "Arkansas (You Run Deep in Me)"
by Wayland Holyfield 		1987 — [1]
Song "Oh, Arkansas"
by Terry Rose and Gary Klass 		1987 — [1]

Animals

Type Symbol Year Image
Bird Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos 		1929[5]
Butterfly Diana fritillary butterfly
Speyeria diana 		2007[6]
Dinosaur Arkansaurus Fridayi 2019[7]
Insect Honey bee
Apis mellifera 		1973[8]
Mammal White-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus 		1993[9]
Primitive fish Alligator gar
Atractosteus spatula 		2019[10]

Plants

Type Symbol Year Image
Floral emblem Apple blossom
Pyrus malus 		1901[11]
Fruit and vegetable South Arkansas vine ripe pink tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 		1987[12]
Grain Rice
Oryza sp. 		2007[13]
Grape Cynthiana grape
Vitis aestivalis 		2009[14]
Nut Pecan
Carya illinoinensis 		2009[15]
Soil Stuttgart soil series 1997[16]
Tree Pine tree
either Pinus taeda or Pinus echinata 		1939[17]

Geology

Type Symbol Year Image
Gem Diamond 1967[18]
Mineral Quartz 1967[19]
Rock Bauxite 1967[20]

Culture

Type Symbol Year Image
American folk dance Square dance 1991[21]
Beverage Milk 1985[22]
Firearm Shotgun 2019[23]
Historic cooking vessel Dutch oven 2001[24]
Knife Bowie knife 2019[25]
Musical instrument Fiddle 1985[26]
Northwest Purple Martin Capital Fort Smith, Arkansas 1993[27]
Poultry Capital of the World Springdale, Arkansas 2013[28]
Southeast Purple Martin Capital Lake Village, Arkansas 1993[27]
Steam Locomotive Cotton Belt 819 2021[29]
Trout Capital Cotter, Arkansas 1993[30]

Other

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state songs", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  2. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state motto", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  3. ^ "Arkansas Code | State nickname". Justia. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  4. ^ "Arkansas Code | Official Language". Justia. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  5. ^ Spurgeon, John (March 8, 2018), "Official state bird", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  6. ^ Spencer, Lori A. (March 8, 2018), "Official state butterfly", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  7. ^ "Arkansas Code | State dinosaur". Justia. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  8. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state insect", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  9. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state mammal", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  10. ^ "Gov. Hutchinson signs bill making alligator gar state's official primitive fish", thv11.com, March 25, 2019, retrieved 2019-05-27
  11. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state flower", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  12. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state fruit and vegetable", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  13. ^ Teske, Steven (March 8, 2018), "Official state grain", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  14. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state grape", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  15. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state nut", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  16. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state soil", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  17. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state tree", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  18. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state gem", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  19. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state mineral", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  20. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state rock", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  21. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state dance", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  22. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state beverage", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  23. ^ "Arkansas Code | State firearm". Justia. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  24. ^ Ragsdale, John G. (March 8, 2018), "Official state cooking vessel", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  25. ^ "Arkansas Code | State Knife". Justia. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  26. ^ Ware, David (March 8, 2018), "Official state musical instrument", Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Central Arkansas Library System, retrieved 2019-05-27
  27. ^ a b "Arkansas Code | Purple Martin Capitals". Justia. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  28. ^ "Arkansas Code | Poultry Capital of the World". Justia. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  29. ^ "Arkansas Code | State Steam Locomotive". Justia. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  30. ^ "Arkansas Code | Trout Capital of the U.S.A". Justia. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
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