Symbol | Official Item

Nebraska designated the cottonwood (Populus deltoides) as the official state tree in 1972, replacing the original choice made in 1937 - the American elm (Ulmus Americana L.). The cottonwood tree is often associated with pioneer Nebraska - shoots were collected and planted on claims, and several famous early landmarks were cottonwood trees. Today cottonwood trees grow throughout Nebraska.

The cottonwoods are deciduous trees of the poplar species, distinguished by thick, deeply fissured bark and triangular to diamond-shaped leaves.

Nebraska designated "A Place Like Nebraska" by Sol Kutler as the official state ballad in 1997 (Nebraska's state song was adopted in 1967). All State Songs

Nebraska designated "Beautiful Nebraska" by Jim Fras and Guy G. Miller as the official state song in 1967. Nebraska also recognizes an official state ballad. All State Songs

Nebraska designated the mammoth as the official state fossil in 1967. Various species of mammoth crossed the Bering Strait land bridge in prehistoric times and spread throughout most of North America. Giant grass-eaters of the Ice Age tundra, the woolly mammoth stood 10-12 feet (3-3.7 meters) tall at the shoulder and weighed 6-8 tons (5500-7300 kilograms), with massive curling tusks and long shaggy hair.

Nebraska designated prairie agate as the official state rock in 1967 Nebraska recognizes another agate as the state gemstone. All State Rocks All State Gemstones

The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was designated the official state mammal of Nebraska in 1981. An animal of incredible beauty and power, white-tailed deer are able to run up to 40 miles per hour, jump 9 foot fences, and swim 13 miles per hour. The white underside of the deer's tail waves when running and is flashed as a warning when danger is sensed. Both native Americans and settlers relied on the white-tailed deer for buckskin and food.

Nebraska designated little bluestem as the official state grass in 1969. Little bigstem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a native prairie grass that grows throughout the Great Plains and beyond. Sometimes called beard grass or bunch grass, little bigstem is an important hay and forage grass.

Nebraska designated the honeybee (Apis mellifica) as official state insect in 1975. Bee pollination is critical to plant and human survival - beeswax and honey are just surplus gifts from this tiny wonder of nature. The plant world expends a lot of energy attracting bees and other insects with brilliantly colored flowers and sweet nectar (nectar is produced solely to attract pollinating insects). The honeybee is recognized as an official state symbol in seventeen states, primarily because honeybees play such an important role in agriculture.

Goldenrod was designated the official state flower of Nebraska in 1895 to "foster a feeling of pride in our state, and stimulate an interest in the history and traditions of the commonwealth." It was later said by Ida Brockman (daughter of representative John M. Brockman) that the state flower "... has a long season, and nothing could better represent the hardy endurance of Nebraska's pioneers" (goldenrod flowers appear from July through October).

Nebraska designated the western meadowlark as official state bird in 1929. The Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) is a familiar songbird of open country across the western two-thirds of the continent.