Symbol | Official Item

The thoroughbred (Equus caballus) was designated the official state horse of Kentucky in 1996. A thoroughbred horse is also featured on the Kentucky Quarter.

The blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) was designated the official state fruit of Kentucky in 2004. All State Foods

Blackberries (also called "bramble berry" or "bramble raspberry") are a widespread and well known group of several hundred species of berry native throughout the temperate Northern hemisphere, usually with numerous (and very sharp) short curved spines on the plant stems ("thorns").

Kentucky designated the University of Kentucky Arboretum in Lexington as the official state botanical garden in 2002.

The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was designated official state bird of Kentucky in 1926. The northern cardinal is the state bird of 7 states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia). All State Birds

Kentucky spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) was designated as the official state fish of Kentucky in 1956 (also called just "Kentucky bass," though it is one of four species of black bass swimming in Kentucky waters). All State Fish

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, KY was designated as the official state bourbon festival of Kentucky in 2000. From the Kentucky Bourbon Festival website:

The people of Bardstown, Kentucky have been making bourbon since 1776. Their dedication to the fine art of distilling eventually gave Bardstown the title of Bourbon Capital of the World. 

Kentucky designated clogging as the official state dance in 2006. Bluegrass clogging is a traditional social dance of the Kentucky Appalachian culture (Kentucky also adopted bluegrass as the official state music in 2007). All State Dances

The Kentucky state flag was adopted in 1962. The state seal design is featured in the center, with the state motto: United We stand, Divided We Fall.

Pledge of Allegiance to State Flag of Kentucky

I pledge allegiance to the Kentucky flag,
and to the Sovereign State for which it stands,
one Commonwealth, blessed with diversity,
natural wealth, beauty, and grace from on High.

Adopted in 1792, the Kentucky state seal highlights the state motto; "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" (originating from a stanza of a tune popular in 1768; "Liberty Song" by John Dickinson, which proclaimed: "Then join in hand, brave Americans all; by uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.").

Kentucky adopted "My Old Kentucky Home" as the official state song in 1928 (composed by Stephen Foster in 1853). Kentucky also recognizes an official state bluegrass song ("Blue Moon of Kentucky"). All State Songs