List of Indiana state symbols

The U.S. state of Indiana has 13 official state emblems, as well as other designated official and unofficial items. The majority of the symbols in the list are officially recognized and created by an act of the Indiana General Assembly and signed into law by the governor. They are listed in Indiana Code Title 1, Article 2, State Emblems which also regulates the appearance and applicable use of the items.[1]

Location of the state of Indiana in the United States, highlighted in red.

Compared to other states, Indiana has few official symbols. The first symbol was the Seal of Indiana, which was made official in 1801 for the Indiana Territory and again in 1816 by the state of Indiana.[2] It served as the state's only emblem for nearly a century until the adoption of the state song in 1913.[3] For many years, Indiana was the only state without a flag. The official state banner was adopted in 1917, and renamed the state flag in 1955.[4] The newest symbol of Indiana is the state insect, the Say's firefly, designated in 2018.[5]

Insignia
Type Symbol Description Year Image
Flag[6] The flag of Indiana Indiana's flag has a blue background with a torch in the center. The torch is surrounded by nineteen stars: the thirteen in the outer ring representing the original colonies, the five in the inner ring representing the next five states admitted (prior to Indiana), and the one on top of the torch representing Indiana. 1917
Motto[7] The Crossroads of America Indiana is the site of many cross-country roads, including the National Road and U.S. Route 41. 1937
Nickname[7] The Hoosier State Indiana residents are known as Hoosiers, a word of unknown origin. Traditional
—
Seal[8] The seal of Indiana Indiana's seal depicts a setting sun, sycamore trees, a woodsman, and a jumping bison. 1963
Slogan[9][A] Honest to Goodness Indiana February 12, 2014
—

Species
Type Symbol Description Year Image
Bird[10][B] Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis		 The male cardinal is bright red and the female is brown and dull red. They live in Indiana year-round. 1933
Flower[11][C] Peony
Paeonia		 The peony is a red, pink, or white flower that blooms in late May. It is grown throughout Indiana. 1957
Insects[5] Say's Firefly

Pyractomena angulata

 The males of this flying beetle species produce amber flashes of light at night to attract mates. It is named for New Harmony, Indiana naturalist Thomas Say. March 23, 2018
Tree[12] Tulip tree
Liriodendron tulipifera		 The tulip tree is also called the yellow poplar. It has a distinctive leaf shape and yellow, bell-shaped flowers. It is a tall tree and grows throughout Indiana. March 3, 1931

Geology
Type Symbol Description Year Image
River[13] Wabash River The Wabash is the longest river in Indiana. It flows from Ohio across Northern Indiana until it forms the border between Indiana and Illinois. 1996
Soil[14] Miami Miami soil is used to grow corn and soybeans, Indiana's primary crops. It is a brown silt loam that is highly productive and widespread in Indiana.
—
Stone[15] Limestone The Indiana variety of limestone, also called Salem or Bedford, is significantly quarried in south-central Indiana. It is a high-quality stone that has been used in buildings such as the Empire State Building and the Pentagon. A sculpture commemorating the state stone sits in the Indiana Statehouse. 1971

Culture

The Indiana Senate approved a resolution naming water as the state beverage in 2007[16] renaming sugar cream pie, "Hoosier Pie", and acknowledging it as "unofficial state pie" in 2009.[17]

Type Symbol Description Year Image
Language[18][19] English, American Sign Language English is the native language of over 95% of the state's residents. 1984, 1995
—
Holidays[20]
[21]
[22]		 George Rogers Clark Day, February 25 (1779)
Northwest Ordinance Day, July 13 (1787)
Indiana Day, December 11 (1816)		 Celebrates the surrender of Fort Sackville
Celebrates the adoption of the Northwest Ordinance
Celebrates Indiana's admittance to the United States		 1975
1988
1925
Pie[23] The largest producer of these pies is Wick's Pies, whose plant is in Winchester, Indiana, and makes 750,000 sugar cream pies a year. 2009
Poem[24] "Indiana" "Indiana" is by Arthur Franklin Mapes, the former Indiana State Poet Laureate. The poem describes the state's natural beauty. 1963
—
Song[25] "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away"
By Paul Dresser		 This song describes the author's past along the Wabash River. March 14, 1913
Rifle[26] Grouseland Rifle Grouseland Rifle is one of the six remaining rifles made by gunsmith John Small in the early 1800s. March 6, 2012
Aircraft[27] Republic P-47 Thunderbolt The P-47 was built in Evansville by Republic Aviation June 24, 2015

Notes
A The slogan was formerly Restart your engines,[28] alluding to the Indianapolis 500, which is begun with the quote "Gentlemen, start your engines." Prior to that it was "Enjoy Indiana".
B At the time, the northern cardinal's scientific name was Richmondena Cardianalis Cardinalis. It was changed in 1983.[29]
C From 1923 to 1931, the state flower was the flower of the tulip tree. From 1931 to 1957, the state flower was the Zinnia.[30]

See also
  • Lists of United States state insignia

References
  1. "IC 1-2". Indiana Code. Indiana Office of Code Revision. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
  2. "Indiana's State Seal—An Overview". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  3. Henderson, Clayton W. "Paul Dresser". Indiana Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2012-09-21. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
  4. "Indiana's State Banner". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  5. "Say's Firefly to become state insect after bill lights its way through the Indiana House". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  6. "Indiana State Flag". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  7. "State emblems". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  8. "Indiana State Seal". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  9. "New state tourism slogan unveiled". Fox 59 News. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  10. "Indiana State Bird". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  11. "Indiana State Flower". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  12. "Indiana State Tree". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  13. "Indiana State River". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  14. "Miami—Indiana State Soil" (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  15. "Indiana State Stone". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  16. "Senate Resolution 20, 2007". Indiana General Assembly. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  17. "Senate Resolution 59, 2009". Indiana General Assembly. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  18. "Indiana State Language". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  19. "Indiana State Language"
  20. "IC 1-1-13". Indiana Code. State of Indiana. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  21. "IC 1-1-14". Indiana Code. State of Indiana. Archived from the original on 2008-02-12. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  22. "IC 1-1-10". Indiana Code. State of Indiana. Archived from the original on 2008-02-12. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  23. "Indiana State Pie". State of Indiana. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
  24. "Indiana State Poem". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  25. "Indiana State Song". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  26. "Indiana sets sight on having official state rifle". indystar.com. March 7, 2012. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  27. "P-47 Thunderbolt Named Official State Aircraft of Indiana". WFIE-TV. June 24, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  28. "Indiana Tourism Revs Up New Brand Campaign". Inside Indiana Business. Archived from the original on 2009-08-21. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  29. Ritchison, Gary (1997). Wild bird guides. Stackpole Books. p. 2. ISBN 0-8117-3100-6. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  30. "State Tree of Indiana". Indiana Woodland Steward. Purdue University. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-11-23.

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