By a vote of 39-0 in the Virginia state senate, "Our Great Virginia" was designated the official state traditional song (and "Sweet Virginia Breeze" was designated the official state state popular song of Virginia), effective July 1, 2015.
Pennsylvania designated the Piper J-3 Cub as the official aircraft of Pennsylvania in 2014, when Governor Tom Corbett signed the law into legislation. All State Ships & Aircraft
South Carolina designated the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) as the official state reptile in 1988 after a request made by a fifth grade class.
Loggerheads make an extended migration between their feeding grounds and rookeries, and South Carolina has some of the most pristine nesting areas for loggerhead sea turtles on the east coast of the United States.
Loggerhead sea turtles are federally listed as threatened with extinction, partially due to destruction of their nesting habitats. They are an ancient and mysterious animal that can reach over 200 pounds.
by Hank Martin and Buzz Arledge
South Carolina designated a second official state song in 1984: South Carolina on my Mind by Hank Martin and Buzz Arledge (native South Carolinians).
South Carolina designated collard greens (Brassica oleracea) as the official state vegetable in 2011; a result of efforts made by Mary Grace Wingard, a third-grader from Lexington, South Carolina.
South Carolina ranks second in the nation in collard green production and Lexington County ranks first among the counties of South Carolina in collard green production.
The Carolina Tartan was designated the official state tartan of South Carolina in 2002 (North Carolina also recognizes the Carolina tartan).In old Scotland, the tartan was used for clothing and as a banner or flag. Because a family or community worked the cloth together, their clothing was made of the same patterns, and so a person could be recognized by the Tartan plaid that he wore. Tartans can also be designed as a symbol commemorating a special event or person.
South Carolina designated the sabal palmetto (Inodes Palmetto) as the official state tree in 1939. The palmetto symbolizes the defeat of the British fleet at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island. The fort was constructed of palmetto logs which were able to absorb the impact of cannon balls.
Sabal palmetto (commonly called cabbage palm) is a familiar symbol of South Carolina - in fact it's nickname is The Palmetto State. The sabal palmetto is also featured on the state flag, the great seal, and the U.S. Mint's bicentennial commemorative quarter for South Carolina.
South Carolina designated striped bass (Morone saxatilis) as the official state fish in 1972. "Stripers" are the state's most famous game fish. Striped bass are large in size (many stripers weigh 30 to 40 pounds) and aggressive in nature, making them a favorite for angler's.
South Carolina's Santee Cooper Lakes were the original home for the landlocked striped bass and some of the best striped bass fishing in the world can be found in these lakes. These great game fish are now also stocked in all of the South Carolina's major reservoirs.
South Carolina designated the lettered olive (Oliva Sayana) as the official state shell in 1984. An early pioneer in conchology (Dr. Edmund Ravenel of Charleston, South Carolina) found and named the lettered olive seashell. Lettered olives are prolific along the South Carolina coast.
South Carolina designated the peach as official state fruit in 1984. South Carolina ranks second in fresh peach production in the United States (California is first).
South Carolina grows over thirty varieties of peaches; they have been grown commercially in South Carolina since the 1860's.