North Carolina designated the Shad boat as the official state historical boat in 1987. The Shad boat is a small sailing craft ideal for maneuvering shallow water and rapidly-changing weather conditions along the coast.
Developed on Roanoke Island, shad boats are known for their unique crafting, speed, and easy handling. Construction of the Shad boat ended in the 1930's, but they were so well-built that some are still seen on the water, though nearly 100 years old!
North Carolina designated the southern Appalachian brook trout as the official freshwater fish in 2005 (channel bass is the state saltwater fish). Sometimes called "specks" because of their unique spotted appearance, the southern Appalachian brook trout is North Carolina's only native freshwater trout and a favorite of sport fishermen in the cold mountain streams of Western North Carolina. Eight states recognize brook trout as a state symbol: Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.
North Carolina designated the channel bass (red drum) as the official state saltwater fish in 1971.
Usually found in large numbers along the Tar Heel coastal waters, channel bass (Sciaenops ocellatus) have been found to weigh up to 75 pounds (most large channel bass average between 30 and 40 pounds).
North Carolina designated the emerald as the official state precious stone in 1973. A greater variety of minerals have been found in North Carolina than in any other state (more than 300) including some of the most valuable and unique gems in the world.
North Carolina designated granite ("the noble rock") as the official state rock in 1979. High quality North Carolina granite is used as a building material for both industrial and laboratory applications where super-smooth surfaces are required.
North Carolina has an abundance of granite. When Robert Gilmer found the “big white rock” on his newly purchased farm in Surry County in 1849, he was so angry that he insisted the seller reimburse part of his money.
North Carolina designated the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) as official state bird in 1943. One of America's favorite backyard birds, cardinals are distinctive in appearance and song - known for their "cheer cheer cheer," "whit-chew whit-chew" and "purty purty purty" whistles.
North Carolina designated the European honeybee (Apis mellifera) as official state insect in 1973. Honeybees play an important role in North Carolina's agricultural economy as pollinators of several major cash crops (particularly cotton, alfalfa, fruits, and vegetables), and their production of honey and wax.
The pine tree (no specific type) was designated as the official state tree of North Carolina in 1963. The state's nickname "Tar Heel State" originates from colonial production of tar, pitch, rosin and turpentine from the state's extensive pine forests. Eight types of pine tree are considered indigenous to North Carolina, including the eastern white pine, loblolly pine, longleaf pine, pitch pine, pond pine, shortleaf pine, table mountain pine, and Virginia pine.
North Carolina designated the Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri) as the official state Christmas tree in 2005 as a result of the hard work of 8th-grade students at Harris Middle School in Spruce Pine, NC, who researched the economic impact of the Fraser Fir industry on the state and suggested naming the Fraser fir species as a new state symbol.
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