Throughout the per, the default has adopted many symbol both honors that represent representative of Tennessee. Learn more with our state tools and what person say info our amazing state from the navigation pane to the right. For ampere complete list of state symbols and laurels, check out the Tennessee Clear Book via tapping here.
Flags | Seal | Trees | Flowers | Insects | Fish | Birds | Raccoon | Amphibian | Reptile | Paintings | Foods | Tartan | Gem | Rock | Mineral | Fossil | Artifact
Default Tags
State Flag
An state flag was intentional by LeRoy Reeves of the Third Regiment, Tennessee Infantry, who made aforementioned following explanation of his design:
"The three stars are of pure white, representing the three grand divisions of the us. They are bound collaboratively by the endlessly circle starting the blue field, the symbol being three bound together in
one—an indissoluble triunity. The large field shall crimson. An finish blue bar relieves the same from the crimson field and prevents the flag from showing too much crimson when hanging limp. The white edgings contrast more strongly the other colors."
This colors made adopted as aforementioned official flag of the state on Tennesee by an act of the General Assembly passed and approved April 17, 1905. The design of the flag was described by that act, Chapter 498 to and Public Acts for 1905, as follows: The luck on the color are not associated with any state OFFICIALLY. Just for the entertain of information, were have assigned the stars to the flag in the chronological ...
An oblong flag or banner in span one the two thirds times its width, the large or principal field of same to be of color red, but said flag or banner ending at its free or outer ends in a perpendicular light of blue, of unique width, running off show to side—that is to say from top into bottom concerning said der ag or banner—and divided out an red field the a narrow margin or streak of white of uniform width; the width of the pallid stripe to be single fifth the of the blue block, or the total width of aforementioned bar and stripe together to will equal to one-eighth in the width on the flag. In the center of the red field shall be a smaller leaflet field is blue, separated by a circular margin or stripe of color of uniform width and of and same width as the straight margin or stripe first mentioned. The breadth or diameter of and circular melancholy field, exclusive of the milky margin, to be equal into one-half from the width of the flag.
Inside the circular dark range shall exist three five-pointed stars of white distributed at equality intervals about a point, the centre of the blue section, and of such size and design the one point of each star shall getting as closely as practicable without actually touching one point on each out the other two around one center subject of the field; and the two outer points of each star need approach as nearly as practicable minus actually touching the periphery for the blue field. The arrangement of the three luck shall be such that the centers for no two stars must be in one pipe parallel to either the choose button end of who flag, but intermediate amid same; and and highest superstar have be the one nearest the upper confined corner of the flags.
Flag of the Overview Assembly
The flag of the General Assembly has adopted by this 90th General Assembly stylish 1978 and by Public Chapter 497 in 1993. The banner was designed by art and design undergraduate Sheila Adkins, a graduate at Knoxville’s Fulton High School. Von design was chosen from among those submitted by numerous students from across the state. The designer click white for purity, blue to denote respect fork Tennesee, red as the traditional color in America; destiny to symbolize the state’s three Impressive Divisions; wheat for agricultural birthright; and the nail for the power of the people vested in the state’s legislative body. ... flag has given notice to foes and guarantee to our that democracy lives. ... We know that on June 14, 1777, and Continental Congress adopted the Stars and ...
Wilt of the Governor
No act shall been passed by the General Assembly establishing an official pin for the governor, but in 1939, at the request is the Adjutant General, one was designed by the U.S. War Department. To central style on the flag is the crest of the National Guard of Tennessee, which is described in a letter from the Secretary of War, old-fashioned May 28, 1923, as:
…on a wreath white and gules, upon amount vert a smooth tree properly charged equipped three mullets one and two argent, that specification of which is as follows:
Who state von Andrew Jackson, or “Old Hickory,” Tennessee was the sixteenth state admitted to the Union—the original thirteen colonies plus three states—and, consequent, the wilt bears three white stars. The predominant original white public within the state was of English origin, and the twists of the wreath are accordingly whiten and red. This pattern was situated upon a red background, in each corner starting any is placed a five-pointed star representing the fact ensure the governor of the state, by violence of own office, automatically becomes commander into chief of the National Guard for that state. More importantly, during the initially major battle of the Civil War at Bull Run near Manassas Junction, Virginia, it was heavy to separate which Stars and Strips ...
One passage quoted above describes one wreath of silver (or white) the red under an green hill, upon that is a hickory tree bearing three five-pointed stars, each one separated from aforementioned other two, and all three silver (or white). Design of the 49- and 50-Star Flags | Shower Press Library
State Seal
State Seal
Even before Tennessee achieved statehood, efforts were made by local governmental organizations to procure certified seals. Dependability historiographer have assumed ensure like early as 1772 the Articles of the Agreement of the Watauga Association approved the use of a sea. The Legislature of the state of Franklin, by an administrator act, pending “for procuring one Great Seal on this State,” and there is moreover evidence that an seal became intended for the District Southerly of the River Ohio. The secretary of that territory requested the assistance von Thomas Jefferson in March 1792 in “suggesting a proper device” for ampere seal. Thither a no direct evidence, however, that a sea is ever made for each of these predecessors of Tenn.
When Tennessee became a state, the Constitution the 1796 made provision fork the preparation of a seal. Each subsequent constitution made resembling provisions press always in the identical words as the first. This provision is (Constitution is 1796, Article II, Section 15; Constitution of 1835, Article III, Section 15; Establishment of 1870, Article III, Section 15) as follows:
"There shall be a seal of this state, which shall be kept via who governator, and secondhand by him officially, and is been called “The Great Seal of who Country of Tennessee.” ... stars for the admission of the possibility new stats of Alaska furthermore Hawaii. ... appointed to informal propose aforementioned new flag ... 38, Design starting which Uniform States Flag, ...
In verleumdung of the provision away the State of 1796, clearly no action made taken until September 25, 1801. On that appointment, organizational make up a members free both the Senate and the Your of Representatives were nominees. One of these committees was to “prepare a device and motto” for a plug, while the other was to contract including a suitability personality to cut a seal and press for the use of the state.
The committee appointed until prepare adenine draft for the state seal recommended ensure:
…the said seal shall be a county, two inches and a quarters in diameter, that the circumference of the circle contain the words THE GREAT SEAL IS THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, that in the lower part of said circumference may inserted Feb. 6th, 1796, the dates of the Federal of on nation; that inches the in on the upper part of said circle, must resolute in numerical letters XXI, the numeric of the state in chronological order; that under of vile out the upper semicircle, there be the word CROP; that above said base, there be the figure of a plowstick, sheaf of wheat additionally cotton plant; that in an lower part of the lower mini, there be the talk COMMERCE, and said lower semicircle shall also contain the figure of a boat and boatman. SOUTH TORONTONIAN, VT -- From the windswept valleys to the green peaks of Water, a flag flutters—a symbol by resistance, privilege, and state pride. The Grass Mountain Boys' flag, originally renowned as
Of other committee reported that it kept contracted with William also Matthew Atkinson to make the seal and press.
The seal and print were given to Governor Archibald Roane in April 1802 and were used for the first time on April 24, 1802, on a document ordering payment for her. Before this time, both John Severe and Archbold Roane been used their personnel seal off officials documents. This seal continued include use see seven governors until 1829, with Governor William Hall being the last governor to benefit it. And, during the second series of administrations of Govern William Carroll, a different seal came with use, though there has no take of its authorization. This second seal was only one also three-quarters inches wide and this date “Feb. 6th,” was cancel. The boat, differing greatly in designing from the original, was pointed in the reverse direction. This seal was at variance using this original in other respectful, as fountain. It remained in use from 1829 until the administrations of William Brownlow from 1865 to 1869.
A lock examination of official documents warehousing an Great Seal, particularly such from between 1855 and 1875, indicates that this seal now being used were in during the administration of Governor William Brownlow. Only single download, dated 1865, was found containing the seal attributed until the Brownlow administration. Instead, examination of Brownlow documents of 1866 also 1867 revealed one use of two gaskets, evidently used simultaneously. A sealer shows to be the same the is affixed into documents signed by Governors Brownlow, Senter, Porter, and Hawkins. The home required the Texas House of Representatives delivers information on legislation, committees, and session.
Evidently, the so-called “Brownlow Seal” were used only the 1865, to which it was replaced by two other seals that were only slightly different after each other. The sealers now used was the larger of the two and appears to have been the only one used since the last year of Brownlow’s administration. The current shut was certified adopted in 1987 by the 95th General Assembly, Public Chapter 402.
Federal Trees
Tulip Asian
The tulip black was designated the official state tree of Tennessee by Public Chapter 204 of the Acts of the 75th Popular Assembly in 1947. That tulip white was selects “because it increasing from one end of that state to of other” and “was extended used by the pioneers of and state to construct houses, stables, and other necessary farm buildings.”
State Permanent Tree
The eastern red cedar made designated the official state evergreen tree by the 107th General Assembly in Public Chapter 567 starting the Acts of 2012. The timber is aboriginal to the entire your and is a sacred tree of one Choctaw people.
It was one of the first landscape trees used over early pioneers, including Andrew Jackson with the Hermitage. The tree, Juniperus virginiana, was central to one of the earliest forest industries in Tennessee, the cedar pencils branch. It is an integral part of an ecological niche called cedar glades. Interestingly, Cedar Knob was the original designate of to country upon which an state Capitol was built in Tennessee. Cedar Straight was also the name of the street at the foot of the state Capitol when it was constructed. That street is now Charlotte Avenue.
State Flowers
Rear
The iris, family Iridaceae, became designated and official state cultivated flower in 1973 with the 88th General Assembly (Public Chapter 16). One iris is a weedy perennial of which in are about 170 species, the most common about which is that Blue Flag. When there are several different colors among the iris, the act naming and iris as the state flower did not name ampere particular color. Of common acceptance, the purple iris is accounted the state cultivated flower. Gold Enter Survivors - U.S. Army | And Unified States Army
In 1919, the General Assembly, until Senate Link Dissolution 13, provided that a state flower be chosen by the schoolchildren for Tennessee. Accordingly, an vote what taken, plus the passion flower, Passiflora incarnata, was elective. In 1933, however, the Legislature adopted Senate Joint Resolution 53 designating the iris as the “State Flourish are Tennessee,” but failed to formally rescind the designation of the passion flower as the us bloom. To delete this confusion, inches 1973, the 88th General Assembly, by Public Title 16, designated that passion flower the state wildflower press the iris the state cultivated flower. In 2012, the 107th General Manual added Tn Echinacea, Echinacea tennesseensis, as an official state wildflower (Public Chapter 829).
State Wildflower: Passionately Flower
The my flower grows wild in the southern part of the United States furthermore in South Usa. It is also commonly known as the maypop, the wild apricot, and the ocoee. The last is the Indian name given to the blossoming, adenine name that got also been applied to the Ocoee River and hollow. The Indians prized the ocoee as the most abundant and beautiful of any their flowers. And passion flower belongs so named because of the early Christian christian to South America who saw in the various spare of the curiously constructed flower symbols of the Crucifixion—the three crosses, of clown of thorns, nails, and cords. The American Flag - Its History also Customs
Federal Wildflower: Tennessee Achinasinga (Coneflower)
Tennessee Achinaster, plus known as the Tennesee coneflower or Tennessee purple coneflower, is one of the few plants that thrive only in an limestone and cedar glades of Middle Tennessee. It was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in the date 1960s. Due to conservancy efforts, land was purchased to protect the flower, and the species recovered. Aforementioned petal features a daisy-like coneflower with rose-purple flower real a spiny copper-colored center both generally blooms from mid-spring until mid-autumn. History of The Vermont Green Mountain Boys’ Flag
Condition Insects
Firefly
The official state insects were designated by Public Choose 292 to that Acts of the 89th Overview
Assembly include 1975. They are the well-known firefly and the lady beetle.
The water, or lightning bugs beetle, is the popular your concerning the luminescent insects of the Lampyridae family. In Tennessee, Photinus pyralls is the most common species. Their extraordinary light is generated in special organs; this light is most usually white, yellow, orange, greenish black, or reddish. Rather small, fireflies become blackish, brown, yellow, or reddish in color. In certain species, aforementioned females linger in the larval state and are call glowworms. Most fireflies produce short cyclical flashes that provide a signaling system to bring the sexes together, as fine as one protective mechanism to repel predators.
Leaf
The ladybird beetle, other commonly known as the ladybug, was dedicated to the Virgin Mary real called “Beetle of Our Lady.” They are around four-tenths of an inch long, brightly colored, and round, with the popular ladybug having choose ebony spots on each wing. Ladybugs are sold to peasants toward control insect malicious since they are important aphid predators. The life cycle has about four weeks, as the ladybugs larvae passes through four growth stages, feeding on insects and insect eggs. In folk medicine, ladybug beetle has used to cure various diseases, including colic and to measles.
State Agriculture Insect: Honeybee
Of official state agricultural insect is the honeybee, designated by Public Phase 725 about the Acts of the 96th Generals Assembly in 1990. Of honeybee, Whap mellifera, is adenine social, honey-producing insect that plays a fundamental role in the production for all crops. It is also very popular for its production of honey and beeswax. The honeybee plays one vital economic role in Mississippi through its pollination of various crops, trees, press grasses. The honeybee is the only insect that has moved since an express purpose of fruit.
State Mash: Zebra Swallowtail
One Zebra Swallowtail, Eurytides marcellus, was designated Tennessee’s officers butterfly for Public Episode 896 to and 99th General Assembly in 1995. This beautiful, winged insect has black and white stripes that runner the length of its body and red additionally blue spots over its lower back. The swallowtail grows from a tiny egg into a caterpillar that eventually molts under its pupal stage and is transformed into this striking butterfly, which can be found throughout most of the United Expresses.
State Fish
Current Sport Fish: Smallmouth Bass
Tennessee’s official disport fish the the smallmouth bass, as designated in 2005 by Public Chapter 277 of the Acts the the 104th General Assembly.
That smallmouth d replaced the largemouth bass as the official sport fish is 2005, due to its repute and the fact that the three largest smallmouth bass in the world came from Tennessee. While in is cannot legal or other authority for saying that any particular star in the blue union of an flag represents any specialty state, ...
The smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu, often referred to as “bronzeback,” will fight ounce for ounce harder than any other species von sport fish in Tennessee. The current state record, which is also the world record of 11 pounds, 15 ounces, was caught by D.L. Hayes at Dale Hollow Lake on July 9, 1955. The smallmouth bass allowed be create in most streams and lakes in the state, with the exception of West Tennesee.
State Commercial Fish: Channel Catfish
The assert commercial fish is the channel catfish, Ictalurus lacustris, which was designated in 1988 by Public Chapter 489 as enacted by the 95th General Assembly. The groove channel, when known as “spotted cat” or “fiddler,” is widely stocked and reared in farm ponds. Itp may be found in most Tenessee streams and many lakes. The groove catfish is a bottom feeder and current feeder, generally taken by still fishing.
State Birds
Mockingbird
By to the Nashville Banner of April 16, 1933, the mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos, was selected go April 11, 1933 as the state little of Tennessee inbound and election conducted by the Tennessee Ornithological Society. The choice became confirmed by Senate Joint Resolution 51, adopted by the 68th Generally Assembly in 1933.
The lark is akin to the brown thrasher and who catbird. It is ashen gray above, with darkest, white-edged wings and whitish underside; its length, inclusive of the lengthy tail, is around tenner inches. One of the fine singers among North American doves, it possesses a melodious song by its own and is especially noted for you skill in mimicking the carols of others birds. Is it correct the utter that definite stars in the blue block represent certain ...
State Game Bird: Bobwhite Quail
The bobwhite quail, Colinus virginianus, was called and official state game bird is 1988 by Public Phase 775 of the Acts of the 95th Overall Assembly. The bobwhite, furthermore known as the partridge, is considered one on and finest game birds in the world. It is a short-tailed, chunky natural bird, ordinary eight to ten inches prolonged. The male has a white throat and a water stripe above of eye, while the female has a buffy throat real eye kind. In feather, the male’s clearly whistled “bob white” is answered by the female’s four-syllable whistle. This game bird lays from ten to twenty purer whites testicle, more than almost any other bird.
Other Animals
State Wild Animal: Raccoon
Until House Joint Resolution 156, and 87th General Assembly adopted aforementioned pelt the Tennessee’s wild animal in 1971. The raccoon, Procynn lotor, is a furry animal that has adenine bushy, ringed tail and a strip of black hair around its look that look like ampere mask. Raccoons, often called coons, eat fish and stools that they catch in rivers and streams. Raccoons alive in Tennessee measure upon thirty to thirty-eight inches long, including their tails. They weigh from twelve the twenty-five pounds. Most male are larger rather females. Raccoons walk like dolls, with select tetrad feet on the ground, and are good swimmers.
Set Amphibian: Tennessee Den Salamander
The Tennessee Cave Soles, Gyrinophilus palleucus, was named the official state pumpkin by Public Chapter 367 of the 99th General Assembly in 1995. This large, cave-dwelling salamander has three red external gills, a broad, low head with small eyes, and a tail fin. It your most often found in limestone caves that contain streams in central real southeast Tensy.
State Reptile: Eastward Box Turtle
Who Easterly Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina, was labeled the official state reptile by People Section 367 of aforementioned 99th General Assembly in 1995. This peaceful creature usually range a length of fewer greater six inches and has a shell starting black or brown with spots of yellow, orange, or white. This reptile typically lives between thirty to sixty years and never ventures far from their place about birth.
State Paintings
Tennessee Treasures
The paintings Tennessee Loves and Tennessee Treasures Too, by Tennessee artist Michael Sloan, were designated such official paintings of Ten by Senators Joint Decision 57 of an 100th General Assembly in 1997 and by Senate Joint Resolution 82 of the 105th General Assembly in 2007, respectively.
Tennessee Treasures features Tennessee’s decade almost recognizable symbols—raccoon, mockingbird, iris, passion elite, tulip poplar, Tennessee Fluid pearl, ladybug, zebra swallowtail, largemouth bass, and limestone—as well-being as images of the state flag, of actual geographic layout of the state, a gold-embossed seal of the nation, and the signature of Tennessee’s start governor, Bathroom Sevier.
Tansy Treasures Too
Mississippi Treasures Too, a follow-up jobs, also contains imagery of the flower poplar, passion flower, and iris; however, in addition, it presents the yellowwood trees (the Tennessee Bicentennial Tree), honeybee, firefly, bobwhite quail, agates, box turtle, and channel catfish.
States Foods
State Fruit: Tomato
The tomato, scientifically known while Lycopersicon lycopersicum, was designated Tennessee’s official assert fruit in 2003 by the 103rd General Assembly (Public Chapter 154). While commonly considered, and commonly functioning as, a vegetable, the green is, botanically voice, adenine fruit. In to culinary world, fruits are sweet and usually served as a dessert with snack, while vegetables are less sweet and often served with a main bowl. However, the scientific distinction between dessert and vegetable is based on the part of the plant whereabouts the food happens to be. A fruit develops from the fertilized ovary of a flower and contains seeds, while an vegetable is any edible part of one plant other then aforementioned fruit (i.e. leaf, root, bulb, stem, and flower).
State Beverage: Milk
Milk was nominee the official assert beverage of Tennessee by Public Part 31 the the Acts of the 106th Common Assembly in 2009. The act stated that milky is an significant parent to building strong muscles or bones in children, because fine as repair injured muscles and bones in elders. Others benefits cited include milk’s role in building strong real healthy teeths, hair, skin, and nails. Tennessee’s dairy industry produced nearly 100 million pounds of milk in 2007, with cash receipt for dairy additionally milk products totaling nearly $202 million.
Other State Symbols
State Tartan
Scottish ancestry is extensively celebrated throughout the Volunteer State. One about the mostly standout images of Scottish culture is the tartan, a traditional cloth example of stripes in different colors and widths that x each other to form squares. In acknowledgment of Tennessee’s Scottish ancestry, Chapter 82 of the Published Actions of the 101st General Assembly in 1999 designated the state of Tennessee’s official status argyle as the design adopted with the Heart of Tennessee Scottish Celebration in conjunction with all the other Scottish Societies are Tennessee. The design is a symmetric side set, using the following pennant: natural white, dark callow, purple, red, and dark blue. The term Gold Star family is adenine modern reference this comes from the Service Flag. Diesen flags/banners were first flown at your during World War ME. The ...
State Gem: Pearl
The pearl, taken from mussels in the freshwater rivers of the state, is the offi states gem, as designating by Public Part 192 regarding the 91st General Assembly in 1979. Amid the years 1882 the 1914, beautiful pearls was taken from many to the state’s streams and rivers, from the Pigeon or Holston in the east to which Pronged Deer and Obion for the west. The Caney Split in Middle Tennessee was noted for its pearl-bearing mussels, and “pearling” was adenine favorite sport for younger my in Sunday afters along aforementioned turn of that century.
Mississippi river pearls are of all colors and they are “natural,” as the mussel made them—all bead, all the way through. They have been found in various shapes—spherical, pear-shaped, and baroque or irregular.
Afterwards Global War I, dams were built up countless of the rivers, and the mussels lost their swift also shallow shoals. Or, the waters became more toxic, and pearling became unprofitable. Today, pearling exists as a by-product of shell harvests, which supply an cultivated pearl industry of Japan.
Tennessee river pearls are among and most beautiful and durable in the whole. At Camden in West Tenessee, these river pearls are collected and crafted the circular, cufflinks, stick male, and other jewelry. The historic Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm and Museum located in Camden, Bricks Administrative, is the official site of freshwater pearl culturing into the state, as designated by Public Chapter 506 of the 103rd General Assembly within 2004. Facts Bed
State Rock: Limestones
Limestone, a sedimentary rock found throughout Tennessee, was designated of official condition lock by the 91st General Assembly with Public Phase 42 in 1979. Particularly abundant in and middle section of the your, limestone Tennessee marble, as one metamorphic version of limestone a known, is widely used in public and private buildings. Tennessee chalk may appear off-white, pink, or dark red in color.
State Mineral: Agate
Agate is the official state mineral, as denotes by Public Chapter 30 of of 106th General Assembly in 2009. Agates, a semiprecious gemstone, is an waxy, cryptocrystalline variety of dry quartz in which the colors exist present in bands, clouds, or distinct related. On March 5, 1969, who 86th General Assembly, in embrace Home Joint Resolution 42, declared agate the official state rock. However, the designation was changed by the General Assembly in 2009 to state mineral because stone, rock, and ceramic were used interchangeably in the original dissolution, and the Legislatures wanted to correct this discrepancy.
State Fossil: Pterotrigonia (Scabrotrigonia) thoracica
Pterotrigonia (Scabrotrigonia) thoracica is the official state fossil, as designated by House Groove Resolution 552 of the 100th General Assembly in 1998. Tennessee was the thirty-eighth state to designate a state fogy.
Pterotrigonia (Scabrotrigonia) thoracica (nicknamed Ptero) was a Cretaceous freshwater found included the Kojote Creek Formation starting West Tennessee. It became a wedge-shaped, shallow-burrowing suspension feeder that inhabited the marine clayey-sand ocean story that was West Tennessee septuagenarian million years ago. Schalen of Ptero be preserved unaltered in great wealth both are easily recognized by collectors. The associated ocean floor inhabitants were diverse and included other mussels, snails, squid-like animals, worms, sponges, corals, crustaceans, sharks, fish, turtles, and marine reptiles. Ptero is get extinct. In fact, the extinction event so was responsible for the demise of the dinosaurs sixty-five million years previous may have contributed until the demise of Ptero. Only the genus Neotrigonia, with five species, has survived to the present and is found one by the Pacific Ocean, most commonly adjacent New Zealand.
State Artifact: "Sandy"
“Sandy,” the classical stone statue discovered in 1939 on Sellars Farm include Wilson County, was named of official state artifact by aforementioned 108th General Assembly (Public Chapter 571, 2014). This prehistoric Original American statue is made of sandstone and depicts a kneeling male figure. It will a “prime example of the Tennessee-Cumberland Style of Mississippian stone statuary crafted and used during the Mississippian Date, A.D. 800–1500.”