The beautiful brook trout was designated official state fish of Pennsylvania in 1970. All State Fish
The only trout species that is native to Pennsylvania, brook trout live under water conditions that are cool, clean and pure.
Trilobite (Phacops rana) was designated the state fossil of Pennsylvania in 1988. An elementary school science class campaigned for this prehistoric invertebrate that lived in Pennsylvania more than 250 million years ago. All State Fossils
Pennsylvania's state fossil can be recognized by its large, frog-like eyes ("rana" is a reference to a common frog), its fairly large size (up to 6 inches long), and its habit of rolling up into a ball like a pill bug.
The eastern hemlock (Tsunga canadensis) was designated official state tree of Pennsylvania in 1931. All State Trees
Eastern hemlock trees were used by early settlers to build log cabins and as a source of tannic acid (for tanning leather). The eastern hemlock (also called Canada hemlock or hemlock spruce) was pronounced the most picturesque and beautiful of the world's evergreens by A. J. Downing, "the father of landscape gardening in America."
Milk was designated the official state beverage of Pennsylvania in 1982 (twenty states recognize milk as a state symbol). All State Foods & Beverages
Pennsylvania is the fifth largest producer of milk in the United States (as well as the top producer of mushrooms, and the fourth largest producer of apples, freestone peaches, and eggs). Farms comprise about one quarter of the Commonwealth's land (7,745,336 acres out of a total 28,684,800 land acres).
An Act designating the Slinky as the official toy of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was proposed by Representative Richard Geist in 2001, but not enacted. All Cultural Heritage Symbols
The U.S. Postal Service issued a Slinky postage stamp in 1999. The Slinky was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2000, and also appears on the Toy Industry Association's 2003 "Century of Toys List" (the 20th century's top 100 most memorable and creative toys).
The K4s steam locomotive was designated as Pennsylvania's official state steam locomotive on December 18, 1987. All Railroad Symbols
The GGI 4859 electric locomotive was designated as Pennsylvania's official electric locomotive on December 18, 1987 (Pennsylvania also recognizes a steam locomotive as a state symbol). All Railroad Symbols
The official state colors of Pennsylvania are blue and gold. Blue and gold are featured on the Pennsylvania state flag. All State Colors
Pennsylvania's state motto: "Virtue, Liberty, and Independence" appears on the state coat of arms and the Pennsylvania state flag. All State Mottos
Pennsylvania's nickname is "The Keystone State" because it was the middle colony of the original thirteen colonies, and because Pennsylvania has held a key position in the economic, social, and political development of the United States. All State Nicknames