Reference
- State Flag History, Design, TriviaSymbols: Three white five-pointed stars in a blue circle. The three stars represent the state's three geographic divisions, familiar to state residents as the Grand Divisions. East Tennessee is part of Appalachia, and is mountainous. Middle Tennessee is mostly rolling hills and valleys. West Tennessee is flatter and mostly defined by the Mississippi and Tennessee rivers. The circle represents the unity of these three distinct areas.
Colors: Red, white, and blue. Red stands for blood and courage, white for purity, and blue for truth and loyalty. The combination can be interpreted as a nod to the national flag.
State Flower
- State FlowerIris (common name)
Iris germanica (scientific name)
There are many varieties of iris, and the Tennessee state government did not specify any particular type when it designated it the state flower in 1933. However, it is usually depicted as a purple iris. Irises are monocots...
State Tree
- State TreeNot a poplar, and certainly not a tulip, tulip poplar is actually a member of the magnolia family. It possesses a distinctive gray furrowed bark and tulip-like flowers...
State Bird
- State BirdNorthern Mockingbird (common name)
Mimus polyglottos (scientific name)
The northern mockingbird is a medium-sized bird with long legs and tail and short, rounded wings. It has a light gray back and a whitish underside. Its wings and tail are darker gray with white patches. The mockingbird was adopted as state bird by Florida and Texas in 1927, Arkansas in 1929, Mississippi in 1944, and Tennessee in 1933. These states chose it for its beauty, its versatile song, and its prevalence...
State Mammal
- State MammalA medium-size mammal native to North America, the raccoon is a curious and intelligent woodland creature. It was once hunted aggressively for its valuable water-repellent fur...
State Reptile
- State ReptileOf all the land turtles that inhabit the eastern U.S., the box turtle is the one that is usually seen, though its numbers are decreasing. This turtle can have a long life, but that means it matures relatively late...