List of Maryland state symbols explained

This is a list of symbols of the U.S. state of Maryland. Most of the items in the list are officially recognized symbols created by an act of the Maryland General Assembly and signed into law by the governor. However, two of the more famous symbols of Maryland, the state motto and the state nicknames, were never made official by the state government. While the state seal derives from the colonial heritage of the state, the majority of official state symbols were designated in the last few decades.

Insignia

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FlagThe Flag of MarylandArms of the Calvert and Crossland families. While 1904 was the official date of adoption, the flag has colonial roots. Calvert was the surname of the Lords Baltimore, proprietors of the Maryland colony, and Crossland was the maiden name of the mother of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore.1904[1]
MottoFatti maschii, parole femine
Literally: manly deeds, womanly words
Officially: strong deeds, gentle words
The state motto has never been formally adopted, though it was the motto of the Calvert family upon the founding of Maryland in 1634 and appears on the Great Seal of Maryland.Traditional[2] [3]
NicknamesThe Old Line StateThe Old Line State might have originated as a nickname given by George Washington during the Revolutionary War to the Maryland line of troops.Traditional[4]
The Free StateThe Free State originated from an editorial in the Baltimore Sun in 1923 on how Maryland should be free by seceding from the Union rather than prohibiting alcohol.
SealThe Great Seal of MarylandThe obverse side shows Lord Baltimore as a knight on a charging horse. The reverse side shows the Calvert seal, a plowman, a fisherman, the state motto and a Latin text that translates as "You have crowned us with the shield of your goodwill."1969
Coat of armsThe coat of arms of MarylandThe Calvert seal, a plowman, a fisherman, the state motto and a Latin text that translates as "You have crowned us with the shield of your goodwill."

Species

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BirdBaltimore oriole
Icterus galbula
The male's black and orange feathers are similar to the Calvert seal. This led to the bird receiving its name of Baltimore.1947[5]
CatCalico catThe calico has tri-color fur of orange, black and white, which is the same colors as the Calvert seal.2001[6]
CrustaceanBlue crab
Callinectes sapidus
The blue crab is found in the Chesapeake Bay and is the most valuable species harvested from the bay.1989[7]
DinosaurAstrodon
Astrodon johnstoni
In 1958, the first Astrodon fossils were found in Maryland. They lived in what is now Maryland from 130 to 95 million years ago.1998[8]
DogChesapeake Bay RetrieverNamed after the Chesapeake Bay, the retriever was developed in the United States to recover waterfowl for hunters. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County's mascot is a retriever.1964[9]
FishRock fish
Morone saxatilis
The rockfish, also called striped bass, is found in abundance in Maryland.1965[10]
FlowerBlack-eyed susan
Rudbeckia hirta
A daisy with yellow petals and a dark purple center.1918[11]
HorseThoroughbred horse
Equus caballus
The Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing is held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.2003[12]
InsectBaltimore checkerspot butterfly
(Euphydryas phaeton)
The butterfly has orange and black colorings, which is the same colors as the Calvert seal.1973[13]
ReptileDiamondback terrapin
Malaclemys terrapin
The terrapin were abundant and easy to catch and became a gourmet food until over-harvesting depleted terrapin stocks. The University of Maryland's nickname is the "terrapins".1994[14]
TreeWhite oak
Quercus alba
A long-lived and one of the pre-eminent hardwoods of America. It is also the state tree of Illinois and Connecticut. The Wye Oak was believed to be the largest and oldest white oak, being 540 years old until it fell during a thunderstorm in 2002.[15] 1941[16]

Geology

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FossilEcphora gardnerae gardneraeThe shell of an extinct snail that is commonly found throughout Maryland.1994[17]
GemPatuxent River stone
an agate
A yellow and red, almost an orange hue, quartz found only in Maryland. It is named after the Patuxent River.2004[18]

Culture

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BoatSkipjackSkipjacks would dredge the Chesapeake Bay for oysters.1985[19]
DessertSmith Island CakeA cake with eight to fifteen layers and chocolate frosting between each layer. The recipe originated from Smith Island, Maryland. 2008[20]
DrinkMilk1998[21]
ExerciseWalking2008[22]
Folk danceSquare danceA folk dance with four couples arranged in a square. As of 2011, it is the official state dance for 21 states.1994[23]
SpiritRye whiskeyRye whiskey was first produced along the Chesapeake Bay in colonial times, and became popular during the American Civil War. Maryland was once the fifth largest liquor producer in the United States, but prohibition led to the industry's steady decline until the closure of Maryland's last distillery in 1972. Rye distilling would not return to the state until 2014.2023[24]
Song From 1939 to 2021, "Maryland, My Maryland", which set lyrics from a poem written by James Ryder Randall to the tune of "O Tannenbaum", was the Maryland state song. It was repealed and replaced by an act of the Maryland general assembly in 2021.[25] 1939–2021[26]
Sport (individual)JoustingJousting tournaments in the form of ring tournaments have been held in Maryland since colonial times. The Maryland State Jousting Championship has been held annually since 1950 and is sponsored by the Maryland Jousting Tournament Association[27] 1962[28]
Sport (team)LacrosseLacrosse is the oldest known sport to be played in America. Maryland is home to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum.2004
Summer theaterOlney Theatre CenterOlney Theatre was founded in 1938 and offers include the Summer Shakespeare Festival and summer training programs for High School students.1978
TheaterCenter StageCenter Stage was founded in 1963 and is Maryland's largest theater company.1978[29]

References

General
Specific

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maryland State Flag . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . March 22, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100322234710/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/flag.html . live .
  2. Web site: Maryland Statute §13 article 102 . Maryland General Assembly . January 26, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110417063930/http://mlis.state.md.us/asp/web_statutes.asp?gsg&13-102 . April 17, 2011 .
  3. Web site: Great Seal of Maryland . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . December 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224225042/https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/reverse.html . live .
  4. Web site: Nicknames . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . January 28, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110128222932/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/nickname.html . live .
  5. Web site: Maryland State Bird - Baltimore Oriole . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . May 27, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100527153052/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/bird.html . live .
  6. Web site: Maryland State Cat - Calico Cat . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . May 22, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110522082624/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/symbols/html/cat.html . live .
  7. Web site: Maryland State Crustacean - Blue Crab . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . May 21, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110521185925/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/crab.html . live .
  8. Web site: Maryland State Dinosaur - Astrodon johnstoni . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . March 31, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110331191405/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/dino.html . live .
  9. Web site: Maryland State Dog - Chesapeake Bay Retriever . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . May 21, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110521211825/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/dog.html . live .
  10. Web site: Maryland State Fish - Rockfish . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . May 6, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210506190927/https://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/fish.html . dead .
  11. Web site: Maryland State Flower - Black-eyed Susan . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . January 28, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110128215458/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/flower.html . live .
  12. Web site: Maryland State Horse - Thoroughbred . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . October 1, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121001182941/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/symbols/html/horse.html . live .
  13. Web site: Maryland State Insect - Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . April 9, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100409163552/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/insect.html . live .
  14. Web site: Maryland State Reptile - Diamondback Terrapin . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . January 11, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120111152618/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/symbols/html/reptile.html . dead .
  15. Web site: Wye Oak . U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System . January 27, 2011.
  16. Web site: Maryland State Tree - White Oak . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . January 28, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110128215535/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/symbols/html/tree.html . live .
  17. Web site: Maryland State Fossil - Ecphora gardnerae gardnerae . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . January 28, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110128215524/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/fossil.html . live .
  18. Web site: Maryland State Gem - Patuxent River Stone . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . January 28, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110128215531/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/symbols/html/gem.html . live .
  19. Web site: Maryland State Boat - Skopjack . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . September 26, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090926023604/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/boat.html . dead .
  20. Web site: Maryland State Dessert - Smith Island Cake . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . January 28, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110128215504/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/symbols/html/dessert.html . live .
  21. Web site: Maryland State Drink - Milk . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . January 28, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110128215539/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/drink.html . live .
  22. Web site: Maryland State Exercise - Walking . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . January 28, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110128215431/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/symbols/html/exercise.html . live .
  23. Web site: Maryland State Dance - Square Dance . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . January 28, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110128215511/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/folk.html . live .
  24. News: Connolly . Connie . Moore declares rye whiskey state spirit . May 17, 2023 . Cecil Whig . May 17, 2023 . May 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230517195253/https://www.cecildaily.com/news/state_news/moore-declares-rye-whiskey-state-spirit/article_54e7bd09-1f3f-5aa6-84a6-408290f0e4ab.html . live .
  25. Web site: Maryland Repeals State Song That Called Lincoln a 'Tyrant'. 2021-09-08. NPR.org. en. 2021-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20210928193701/https://www.npr.org/2021/05/20/983057655/maryland-repeals-state-song-that-called-lincoln-a-tyrant. live.
  26. Web site: Maryland State Song - Maryland, My Maryland . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . August 6, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120806134536/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/song.html . live .
  27. Web site: Maryland Jousting Tournament Association . July 27, 2011 . July 14, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714043308/http://marylandjousting.com/ . live .
  28. Web site: Maryland State Sport Jousting & Lacrosse . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . May 27, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100527151933/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/sport.html . live .
  29. Web site: Maryland State Theater - Center Stage & Olney Theatre . Maryland at a Glance . Maryland State Archives . January 26, 2011 . January 28, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110128215526/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/symbols/html/theater.html . live .