The state of Arkansas has numerous symbols.
Though two other songs are designated as "state songs" (plus a "state historical song" which was the state song from 1949 to 1963), by state law, the secretary of state must respond to any requests for "the state song" with the music of the state anthem, "Arkansas", which was the state song before 1949 and from 1963 to 1987, when it became state anthem and the other songs gained their present status. This is strictly to preserve the status of "Arkansas"; all four songs are either copyrighted by the state itself or in the public domain. The oldest symbol is the apple blossom, designated in 1901. The most recently designated symbol is the Cotton Belt 898, designated in 2021.
Insignia
Type Symbol Year Image SourceFlagThe Flag of ArkansasSealThe Great Seal of the State of ArkansasAnthem"Arkansas"by Eva Ware Barnett1987—Historical song"The Arkansas Traveler"by Sandford C. Faulkner1987MottoRegnat Populus"The People Rule"1907—Nickname"The Natural State"1953LanguageEnglish1987Song"Arkansas (You Run Deep in Me)"by Wayland Holyfield1987—Song"Oh, Arkansas"by Terry Rose and Gary Klass1987—
Animals Type Symbol Year ImageBirdMockingbirdMimus polyglottos1929ButterflyDiana fritillary butterflySpeyeria diana2007DinosaurArkansaurus Fridayi2019InsectHoney beeApis mellifera1973MammalWhite-tailed deerOdocoileus virginianus1993Primitive fishAlligator garAtractosteus spatula2019
Plants Type Symbol Year ImageFloral emblemApple blossomPyrus malus1901Fruit and vegetableSouth Arkansas vine ripe pink tomatoSolanum lycopersicum1987GrainRiceOryza sp.2007GrapeCynthiana grape Vitis aestivalis2009NutPecanCarya illinoinensis2009SoilStuttgart soil series1997TreePine treeeither Pinus taeda or Pinus echinata1939
Geology Type Symbol Year ImageGemDiamond1967MineralQuartz1967RockBauxite1967
Culture Type Symbol Year ImageAmerican folk danceSquare dance1991BeverageMilk1985FirearmShotgun2019Historic cooking vesselDutch oven2001KnifeBowie knife2019Musical instrumentFiddle1985Northwest Purple Martin CapitalFort Smith, Arkansas1993Poultry Capital of the WorldSpringdale, Arkansas2013Southeast Purple Martin CapitalLake Village, Arkansas1993Steam LocomotiveCotton Belt 8192021Trout CapitalCotter, Arkansas1993
Other
See also List of Arkansas-related topics Lists of United States state insignia State of Arkansas
References
External links State Symbols of Arkansas