List of Washington state symbols
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Official state symbols of the U.S. state of Washington:
- State nickname: The Evergreen State, adopted 1893
- State motto: Al-ki or Alki ("bye and bye")
- State song: "Washington, My Home", adopted 1959
- State flower: Coast Rhododendron, adopted 1892
- State bird: American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis), adopted 1951
- State tree: Western hemlock, adopted 1947
- State fish: Steelhead trout, adopted 1969
- State insect: Green darner dragonfly, adopted 1997
- State gem: Petrified wood, adopted 1975
- State fruit: Apple, adopted 1989
- State grass: Bluebunch wheatgrass, adopted 1989
- State tartan: one designed by Margaret McLeod van Nus and Frank Cannonita, adopted 1991
- State fossil: Columbian mammoth, adopted 1998
- State folk song: "Roll On, Columbia, Roll On," adopted 1987
- State ship: the container ship President Washington, adopted 1983
- State dance: Square dance, adopted 1979
[edit] Marine mammal
Washington's newest state symbol is the orca, due to an effort led by second and third grade students from Crescent Harbor Elementary in Oak Harbor. Pods of orca are resident in Puget Sound and the surrounding waters of the Pacific Ocean. Orcas, and other whale watching tourism brings in millions of dollars of revenue to the state. It is a culturally significant symbol for local tribes of Native Americans. Designation of the orca as the state marine mammal is also an attempt to raise awareness in protecting its habitat. [1]
See also: Lists of U.S. state insignia
Unofficial State Song - "Louie, Louie" [2] performed by The Kingsmen [3]
