The official state motto of Rhode Island is simply "Hope." The state motto appears on the arms of the state, which appear on the great seal and state flag of Rhode Island. All State Mottos
The use of the word "Hope" was probably inspired by the biblical phrase "hope we have as an anchor of the soul."
The flag of Rhode Island is white, bearing on each side in the center a gold anchor, underneath it a blue ribbon with the state motto ("Hope") in gold letters, and surrounded by thirteen golden stars in a circle, representing the original 13 states. The flag design adopted in 1877 also stipulated that; "The flag shall be edged with yellow fringe." All State Flags
The Rhode Island General Assembly first adopted a seal for the colony in 1664 which contained an anchor with the word "Hope" above it (the state motto). The anchor and motto are also featured on Rhode Island's flag. All State Seals
Rhode Island's official nickname is "The Ocean State" (the nickname can be seen on Rhode Island license plates and the U.S. Mint's commemorative quarter for the state). All State Nicknames
Rhode Island is the smallest state (just 1,045 square miles), but it has direct access to the expansive Atlantic! Alaska is at the other end of the spectrum, covering 570,374 square miles of area.
First introduced to Rhode Islanders in the early 1920's, coffee milk became so popular it was designated the official state drink of Rhode Island in 1993. All State Foods & Drinks
Coffee milk is made with coffee syrup. In Rhode Island, coffee milk is found in the dairy case next to other flavored milk beverages such as chocolate and strawberry. A coffee “cabinet” is coffee milk with ice cream (a coffee flavored milk shake).
The New Mexico sunrise guitar was designated the official state guitar of New Mexico in 2009. The New Mexico sunrise is a custom guitar designed and handcrafted by Pimentel & Sons Guitarmakers.
The guitar features inlaid Zia sun symbols. Taking more than a year to craft, the New Mexico Sunrise guitar is adorned with inlays of coral and mother-of-pearl. It has 10 types of aged wood from around the world.
Maryland designated black-eyed Susan as the official state floral emblem in 1918. All State Flowers
Maryland designated the Chesapeake Bay retriever as the official state dog in 1964 (named after the famous bay region of the breed's origin). It's also the mascot of the University of Maryland. All State Dogs
Maryland designated calico as the official state cat in 2001. Cats are also recognized as state symbols in Maine (Maine coon cat); in Massachusetts (tabby cat), and in Colorado, Tennessee, and California (all have adopted shelter and rescued dogs and cats as state symbols). All State Dogs & Cats
Maryland designated the lovely Baltimore checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas phaeton) as the official arthropodic emblem in 1973. All State Insects
This rare butterfly lives in boggy habitats and seems to be declining in its range (much of the eastern United States). Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillars feed in silk "nests" on turtlehead, false foxglove, plaintain, and ash. The adult butterfly has black, orange-bordered wings speckled with white and orange spots.