Rhode Island designated cumberlandite as the official state rock in 1966; a very rare variety of igneous rock. All State Rocks
Cumberlandite is magnetic and is estimated to be between 1 and 1.5 billion years old. A heavy black or dark brown rock with white markings, cumberlandite is found south of the town of Cumberland on both sides of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island was the last state to adopt an official state flower. Although the delicate, beautiful violet (viola sororia) was voted as the state flower by Rhode Island's school children in 1897, the flower was not officially adopted by the state legislature until 1968. All State Flowers
There are 400-500 species of violet (viola) distributed around the world, most in the temperate northern hemisphere. Illinois and New Jersey also adopted the diminutive violet as their state flower symbol.
The Rhode Island greening apple was designated the official state fruit of Rhode Island in 1991. All State Foods
Developed in Rhode Island around 1796, the flesh of greening apples is crisp and colored yellow-green. Rhode Island greening apples keep their sharp taste in cooking.
Rhode Island designated the tall ship sloop "Providence" as the state flagship and tall ship ambassador in 1992. All State Ships
Providence is a replica of the Continental sailing vessel Providence that was built for the 1976 bicentennial. The original 12-gun Continental sloop Providence was commanded by John Paul Jones during the American Revolutionary War.
Rhode Island designated the quahaug as the official state shell in 1987. A shellfish native to the eastern shores of North America, quahaugs (or hard clams) are one of many unrelated bivalves people refer to simply as "clams." Several states have adopted seashell symbols. All Aquatic-Life Symbols
The first mention of Rhode Island in writing ("isola di Rhode") was made by explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524 (he refers to an island near the mouth of Narragansett Bay which he compares to the Island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean). Some attribute the name to Dutch explorer Adriaen Block, who called it "Roodt Eylandt," meaning "red island" (again because its red clay is similar to the Greek island of Rhodes). All State Name Origins
North Carolina designated the strawberry (genus fragaria) as the official red berry of the state in 2001. The blueberry (genus vaccinium) was also recognized as the state blue berry. Both berries are grown throughout North Carolina and consumers can pick their own berries at farms from one end of the state to the other.
Strawberries are high in Vitamin C and A, and supply 8 percent of the recommended daily allowance for iron. One cup of fresh berries has only 60 calories and zero grams of fat.
North Carolina designated the strawberry (genus fragaria) as the official red berry and blueberry (genus vaccinium) as the state blue berry in 2001. Both berries are grown throughout North Carolina and consumers can pick their own berries at farms from one end of the state to the other.
North Carolina designated the blueberry (genus vaccinium) as the official blue berry of the state in 2001. The strawberry (genus fragaria) was also recognized as the state red berry. Both berries are grown throughout North Carolina and consumers can pick their own berries at farms from one end of the state to the other.
One cup of blueberries supplies 50% of the recommended daily allowance for Vitamin C and 22 percent of the fiber recommended for a healthy diet. There are only 60 calories in a cup of fresh berries and zero grams of fat.
North Carolina officially recognizes a number of agricultural and cultural festivals in the state, including the international Folkmoot USA festival:
Hertford County Watermelon Festival: Adopted as the official Northeastern North Carolina Watermelon Festival in 1993.
Fair Bluff Watermelon Festival: Designated the official Southeastern North Carolina Watermelon Festival in 1993.