The Washington District tartan was adopted as the official state tartan of Washington in 1991. A project of the Vancouver Country Dancers, it was designed by Margaret McLeod van Nus and Frank Cannonito to commemorate the Washington State Centennial celebrations. The Washington District tartan is accredited by the Scottish Tartans Society. All State Tartans
Washington designated the square dance as the official state dance in 1979. All State Dances
Twenty-two states have passed legislation to declare the square dance as a state symbol, and more than 30 bills have been introduced at the federal level proposing the square dance as the national (folk) dance of the United States (beginning in 1965).
Alabama has not designated an official nickname, but it has been called "The Yellowhammer State" since the Civil War, when a company of Alabama soldiers wore uniforms trimmed with yellow cloth and were nicknamed "Yellowhammers" (because of the bright yellow feathers that flash beneath this bird's wings and tail). "Yellowhammer" is the common name for the northern flicker woodpecker, which is also the state bird of Alabama.
Washington was nicknamed "The Evergreen State" by pioneer C.T. Conover (a Seattle realtor and historian) for its abundant evergreen forests. All State Nicknames
Although "The Evergreen State" nickname is very well-known and widely used, it has not been officially adopted by Washington's state legislature.
Alabama has a rich variety of minerals gemstones, many of them beautiful as well as useful. Alabama designated star blue quartz as the state gemstone in 1990. All State Gems and Gemstones
Jeweler Charles Talcott designed Washington state's first state seal in 1889 using an ink bottle, silver dollar and a postage stamp. All State Seals
The state seal is also featured on Washington's state flag against a field of green (Washington is the only state that is named in honor of a United States president and has the only state flag in the United States featuring an actual person).
Washington's unofficial motto is "Alki" (or Al-ki), originally a native American word meaning "bye and bye" which evolved to mean "into the future" (Washington Legislature has not yet recognized an official state motto). All State Mottos
The state of Washington was named in honor of George Washington, the first president of the United States of America (Washington is the only state in the Union that's named after a president). All State Name Origins
Washington designated bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicate (formerly Agropyron spicatum) ) as the official state grass in 1989. All State Grasses & Plants - All State Flowers
Alabama Legislature created the honorary office of Poet Laureate of Alabama in 1931. A suitable candidate for poet laureate honoree is designated by the Alabama Writers' Conclave (a voluntary organization of Alabama historians, playwrights, fiction writers, poets, and newspaper writers).