California designated lace lichen (Ramalina menziesii) as the official state lichen in 2015. California is the first state to adopt a lichen as a state symbol. All State Plants
Lace lichen is a particularly beautiful lichen that grows along the California coastline and up to 130 miles inland. Also called fishnet lichen, lace lichen is unique and easy to identify among over 1,900 species of lichens that grow in California.
Texas Gulf shrimp was designated the official state crustacean of Texas in 2015. Alabama also recognizes shrimp as a state symbol. All Aquatic-Life Symbols
According to the Texas Shrimp Association, "brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus), white shrimp (P. setiferus) and pink shrimp (P. duorarum) make up the bulk of Texas shrimp landings."
Peach cobbler was designated the official state cobbler of Texas in 2013. Texas has also recognized other delicious desserts as official symbols of the state; pecan pie, Sopaipilla, and strudel.
Texas designated the cowboy hat as the official state hat in 2015 (the cowboy boot and the bolo tie were also recognized as symbols of Texas in 2007). All Cultural Heritage Symbols.
Texas designated the western honey bee (Apis mellifera) as the official state pollinator in 2015 (the state insect is the monarch butterfly, adopted in 1995). All State Insects
WHEREAS, The State of Texas has traditionally designated a variety of official state symbols that embody the proud spirit and rich heritage of our state; and
Texas designated three official state hashtags in 2015:
#Texas - Hashtag of Texas
#TexasToDo - Hashtag of Texas tourism
#txlege - Hashtag of the Texas Legislature
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines hashtag as; "a word or phrase preceded by the symbol # that classifies or categorizes the accompanying text (such as a tweet)."
The U.S. Mint's bicentennial commemorative quarter for Missouri features: the Gateway Arch (Gateway to the West) in St. Louis, Missouri (a national historic landmark); Lewis and Clark returning down the Missouri river; and the caption; "Corps of Discovery 1804-2004." Missouri became the 24th state in 1821. All State Quarters
The Pennsylvania long rifle was designated the official state firearm of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2014. All Military & Firearm Symbols
The "Kentucky Long Rifle" was originally known as the "Pennsylvania Long Rifle" because it was originally developed and produced in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Daniel Boone, a native Pennsylvanian born in Berks County, took his Pennsylvania long rifle to Kentucky.
The U.S. Mint's bicentennial commemorative quarter for Maine features Pemaquid Point lighthouse; the state tree (white pine); a schooner at sea (the schooner Bowdoin was designated state vessel in 1987); and the date 1820 (Maine became the 23rd state in 1820).
Wisconsin designated kringle as the official state pastry in 2013. All State Foods
Kringle is a flaky, oval-shaped pastry with fruit or nut filling. Racine, Wisconsin is known as “The Kringle Capital of the World." Baking kringles is a tradition brought to Wisconsin by Danish immigrants in the 1800's and some bakeries are still using decades-old recipes handed down by their ancestors.