1. Maryland's State Sport: Jousting
Maryland was the first state to adopt an official sport. It will also be the only state to ever name jousting as its official state sport. Jousting tournaments have been held in Maryland since early colonial times but became increasingly popular after the Civil War.
2. Oklahoma's State Rock Song: "Do You Realize" The Flaming Lips
During the 2008 legislative session, the Oklahoma legislature approved a resolution which established a selection process for a state rock song. Oklahomans nominated 454 songs. A panel narrowed that to 10. More than 21,000 voted on line for the official rock song. Some of the notable songs in the top 10 were "Move Along" by the All-American Rejects and "Lets Have A Party" by Wanda Jackson. But, in the end, The Flaming Lips won the title.
3. Nebraska's State Beverage: Kool-Aid
Kool-Aid was invented in 1927 in Hastings, Nebraska. Every August the city of Hastings sponsors a yearly festival called Kool-Aid Days.
4. Kentucky's State Wild Game Animal: The Gray Squirrel
In 1996 the Gray Squirrel was designated Kentucky's official game animal.
5. Maryland's State Cat: The Calico
Maryland is one of three states with "State Cats." Maine (Maine Coon Cat) and Massachusetts (The Tabby) are the other two.
6. Utah's State Snack Food: Jell-O
Utah has the highest per capita consumption of Jell-O not only in the US, but in the whole world. In 2001 it was named the state's official snack for that reason.
7. Madison, Wisconsin's Official City Bird: The Pink Plastic Flamingo
30 years ago, a group of University of Wisconsin-Madison students planted over 1,000 plastic pink flamingos in front of the deans office. The prank was remembered as one of the best in Madison history. Last month a newspaper columnist used his paper to lobby for the pink flamingo as the city's official bird. The lobbying paid off, when Madison's City Council voted 15 to 4 in favor of designating the lawn flamingo the official bird of Madison.
8. Oregon's State Hostess: Miss Oregon
Oregon is the only state with an official "State Hostess." In 1969 Oregon's legislature designated Miss Oregon as the official state hostess during her reign.
9. South Carolina's State Tobacco Museum: Tobacco Museum in Mullins, SC
South Carolina is the only state with an official "State Tobacco Museum." South Carolina also has the lowest cigarette taxes in the country.
10. Oklahoma's State Cartoon Character: GUSTY
GUSTY was created by weatherman Don Woods and was used in weathercasts for 35 memorable years. During each weathercast Don drew a GUSTY denoting the upcoming weather conditions. Oklahoma is the only state with an official cartoon character.
11. New Jersey's State Dinosaur: Hadrosaurus
New Jersey is one of only seven states that have official "State Dinosaurs" The Hadrosaurus was native to the coast of New Jersey 80 million years ago.
12. Pennslyvania's State Toy: The Slinky
The toy was invented and developed by naval engineer Richard James in the early 1940s and demonstrated at Gimbels department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in November 1945. The Slinky was originally on sale for $1. The only other states with "State Toys" are Missouri (Teddy Bear) and Kansas (Etch a Sketch).
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