Many people who live in Wisconsin may realize that our state song is, of course, “In Wisconsin,” or they may guess that the state’s drink is milk. But how many people know about our state mineral (Galena) or our state tree (Sugar Maple)? Not many. Show your smarts and impress your friends by learning all the Wisconsin state symbols.
Wisconsin state symbols
State Song: “In Wisconsin!” While it had long been a soulful song at UW-Madison football games, “On Wisconsin” became the official state song in 1959.
State Flower: Violet Wood. Adopted as the official state flower of Wisconsin on Arbor Day 1909, this flower was voted on by schoolchildren. Not only is it the state flower of Wisconsin, but it also holds this title in Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
State Bird: Robin. Another symbol chosen by Wisconsin school children, the red-breasted robin was named as the state bird in 1926-27.
State Tree: Sugar Maple. First chosen in 1893, again by schoolchildren, the sugar maple became the “official” state tree in 1949.
State fish: Muskellunge. The muskie became Wisconsin’s state fish in 1955, though anglers have been fighting them for centuries. These monster fish can grow up to five feet long, although fish stories reach up to seven feet.
State animal: badger. Wisconsin got its nickname from the lead miners who lived in hillside caves during the winter months that were called “badger dens.” Since then, the badger has come a long way, eventually gaining state animal status in 1957.
State wildlife animal: white-tailed deer. Considered another important animal to the state of Wisconsin, it was decided that the white-tailed deer should be honored as a symbol of the state as well. This graceful animal earned state wildlife animal designation in 1957.
Domesticated state animal: dairy cow. The dairy industry is a major industry in the state of Wisconsin, and it was only fair that the dairy cow was named a state pet in 1971.
State mineral: Galena. Galena is an abundant and important source of lead, mined in southern Wisconsin. It was named as the state mineral in 1971.
State rock: red granite. A very pretty igneous rock composed of a variety of minerals, typically quartz, feldspar, mica, and hornblende, red granite became the state rock in 1971.
State symbol of peace: Mourning dove. Also named to the list of state symbols in 1971, the mourning dove is a peaceful, very abundant and large bird, well known for its prominent and repetitive cooing.
State Insect: Honey Bee. In 1977, a group of Marinette’s third graders named the honey bee after the Wisconsin state bug.
Soil condition: old silt silt. This soil was the product of glaciers and improved by prehistoric forests. In 1983, Antigo silt marl was chosen to represent the more than 500 major soil types found in Wisconsin.
Fossil State: Trilobite. It’s hard to believe, but hundreds of millions of years ago, Wisconsin was the site of a warm, shallow salty sea. Trilobites were small arthropods that lived at this time, and are popular with fossil collectors today. They were named as state fossils in 1985.
State Dog: American Water Spaniel. Lively and strong, the American Spaniel was voted “top dog” in 1985 by the citizens of Wisconsin.
State drink: milk. With Wisconsin’s bountiful farmland, it’s easy to understand why milk was named the state’s official drink in 1987.
Grain status: corn. Again in deference to our farming community, corn was named the official grain of the state in 1989.
State Dance: Polka. This lively dance style was a gift from European settlers to this region in the late 19th century. However, the polka did not become the official state dance until 1993.
State motto: “Forward.” Adopted in 1851, this motto reflects Wisconsin’s continued drive to be a national leader.
State Flag: The Wisconsin state flag consists of the State Coat of Arms (see below) on royal blue fabric, with the word Wisconsin centered above, and 1848, the year Wisconsin was admitted to the union, centered below .
State Coat of Arms – Completed in 1881, the coat of arms contains symbols representing the diversity, wealth, and abundance of resources in Wisconsin. The figures are a sailor with a coil of rope and a miner with a pickaxe. These men hold a dismembered shield with symbols for agriculture (plow), mining (pick and shovel), manufacturing (arm and hammer), and navigation (anchor). Centered on the shield is a small US coat of arms and the US motto, E pluribus unum , “One of many.” At the base, a cornucopia, or horn of plenty, represents prosperity and abundance, while a pyramid of 13 lead ingots represents mineral wealth and the original 13 states of the United States.
Centered above the shield is a badger, the state animal, and the state motto “Forward” appears on a banner above the badger.
