Astonishing Virginia State Symbols Facts
Ashley | 15 - 02 - 2022
Updated: February 15, 2022 11:00 pm IST
How much do you know about Virginia, the mother of states? Play this Virginia state symbols facts trivia quiz to find out now!
What are the things that represent Virginia and how did they get nominated as the official state symbols? Discover the Virginia state animal, state food, state song, state bird, state flower, state rock, state fossil, state native species, state seal, emblems, and more Virginia state symbols and the history behind their nominations.
We all know that Virginia is for Lovers but how did that slogan come to be? Why is it nicknamed the Old Dominion or why does it not have a state fruit? Explore the list of Virginia state symbols to know for yourself. Get crisp details and interesting Virginia facts for each Virginia state sign to know.
Is finding the distinct qualities of the Virginia commonwealth enough for you? Absolutely not! Unravel similarities between Virginia and other states with this fun and informative Virginia state quiz below.
P.S. Virginia and West Virginia are two different states.
1. What Is Virginia’s State Bird?
The Northern Cardinal is the state bird of many states but do you know that they were once called “The Virginia Nightingale”? The bird’s color resembles the red robe worn by early American catholic cardinals.
2. What Is the Virginia State Flower?
The flowering dogwood, especially the white ones, were chosen as the state flower of Virginia after Thomas Jefferson, one of America’s founding fathers, had them planted across his estate.
3. What Is the Virginia State Fossil?
Chesapecten Jeffersonian scallops are native to Virginia and North Carolina. The scallops are estimated to have swum across the mid-Atlantic ocean eight to three million years ago.
4. What Is Virginia State Rock?
The igneous rock made of ilmenite and apatite minerals is named after Virginia's Nelson County. The titanium and calcium-rich rock were made the official state rock by Governor Terry McCauliffe in 2016.
5. What Is the State Beverage of Virginia?
George Washington’s Rye Whiskey replaced milk as Virginia’s state beverage in 2017. Milk was chosen back in 1982 when Virginia was one of the largest dairy producers.
6. What Is the State Fruit of Virginia?
Virginia is one of the largest producers of apple, red mulberries, and Paw Paws but it does not have state fruit yet. Recently, the native pawpaws are being considered for the title by delegates and civilians.
7. What Is the State Dessert of Virginia
The chess pie recipe first appeared in a cookbook titled “The Virginia Housewife”. Some claim that chestnut flour was used, others say the southern accent for “Just Pie” was interpreted as “Chess Pie”.
8. What Is the State Fish of Virginia?
The striped bass is the official saltwater fish and the brook trout is the state freshwater fish of Virginia. The red salamander and Easter Oyster are the state’s other aquatic symbols.
9. What Is the State Mammal of Virginia?
The Virginia Big-eared bat is an endangered native species. It is the largest bat in the state and is known to keep the moth population in control. Virginia is the second state to have a state bat after Texas.
10. What Is the Virginia State Animal?
The American Foxhound was the first-ever imported hound species in America. Former President George Washington imported them into the commonwealth for hunting purposes. They are original and rare.
11. What Is the Virginia State Insect?
They are one of the largest butterfly species in the state. The caterpillars have false eyes and two horns releasing a bad odor to drive away predators. Both males and females are yellow with black stripes.
12. What Is the Virginias State Song?
In 2015, Virginia selected "Our Great Virginia" as the traditional song, and“Sweet Virginia Breeze" was the pop song. "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" was the state’s official song from 1904 to 1997.
13. What Is Virginia’s Nickname?
Virginia was the first American settlement and several other southern states were initially a part of the Virginia Territory before splitting. Out of the 46 American Presidents, eight were from Virginia.
14. What Is the Meaning of the Virginia State Seal?
Sic Semper Tyrannis was the Latin term uttered by Marcus Brutus and John Wilkes Booth, the assassins of Julius Caesar and Abraham DeLincoln respectively. The seal symbolizes victory over tyranny.
15. What Is the Slogan of Virginia?
Richmond advertising agency came up with the slogan back in 1968 to win the Virginia State Travel Service account. It soon became popular tourism jargon across the state and was officially adopted in 1969.