Colorado recognized Denver's Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum as an official state museum in 1997 (House Bill 1269). All State Museums
The museum's mission is "... to educate and inspire people of all ages about aviation and space endeavors of the past, present and future ..."
The western painted turtle (Chrysemys Picta Bellii) was designated the official state reptile of Colorado in 2008 thanks to the efforts of Jay Baichi's 4th grade class. All State Reptiles
Jay Baichi's two classes (2007-2008) researched Colorado reptiles and decided that the western painted turtle (a common sight around many Colorado ponds and lakes) was most representative of Colorado reptiles.
The magnificent Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) is the official state tree of Colorado. School children of the state voted to name blue spruce as the state tree on Arbor Day in 1892, however it was not until 1939 that the Colorado blue spruce was officially adopted as the tree symbol of Colorado. All State Trees
The Western tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium) was designated the official state amphibian of Colorado in 2012 (Illinois and Kansas also recognize tiger salamander as an official symbol). All State Amphibians
A large amphibian that can grow to 14 inches, the western (or barred) tiger salamander can be found in the wild from southwestern Canada through the western United States to northern Mexico.
Colorado designated shelter and rescue dogs and cats as the official state pets in 2013 (Tennessee, Colorado, and Georgia also recognize rescued dogs and cats as state symbols). All State Dogs & Cats
Currently there are around eight million abandoned pets living in animal shelters in the United States and three to four million of these dogs and cats are euthanized every year.
The American water spaniel was designated the official state dog of Wisconsin in 1985, after years of effort by 8th-grade students from Lyle Brumm at Washington Junior High School in New London. All State Dogs
Wisconsin designated the lovely mourning dove (Zenaidura macroura corolinensis linnaus) as the official state symbol of peace in 1971 (the American robin is Wisconsin's state bird).
Mourning doves make soft, coo-ing calls that sound like laments. All State Birds
Colorado recognized rhodochrosite as the official state mineral in 2002. All State Minerals
Wisconsin designated the American robin as the official state bird in 1949. Voted on by the school children of Wisconsin in 1926-27, the robin received twice as many votes as those given to any other bird. Wisconsin did adopt another bird symbol in 1971; the mourning dove as the state's official symbol of peace.
The American robin (Turdus migratorius) is also the state bird of Connecticut and Michigan. All State Birds
Wisconsin designated the diminutive and delicate wood violet (Viola papilionacea) as the official state flower on Arbor Day in 1909, chosen by Wisconsin's school children in 1908 to represent Wisconsin's scenic beauty.
Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island also recognize the common wood violet as a state symbol. All State Flowers