State Flag – A red saltire (diagonal cross) on a white background, with the seal of Florida superimposed on the center. (One article I read said the red cross was added so the flag didn’t look like a surrender flag.)
Did You Know (all of these)?
State Capital – Tallahassee: (Chosen in 1824 as a compromise midway point between the territory’s main cities of St. Augustine and Pensacola. Back during the British occupation in 1763-1783 Florida was divided into two colonies, East Florida with a capital in St. Augustine, and West Florida with a capital in Pensacola. At that time travel between the two cities was hazardous and took almost twenty days.)
State Seal – Seal of Florida “The great seal of the state shall be of the size of the American silver dollar, having in the center thereof a view of the sun’s rays over a highland in the distance, a sabal palmetto palm tree, a steamboat on water, and an Indian female scattering flowers in the foreground, encircled by the words ‘Great Seal of the State of Florida: In God We Trust’”
State Day/Week – Pascua Florida (Flowery Easter) is usually celebrated on April 2, unless the 2nd falls on a weekend. When it falls on a Saturday or Sunday the governor may declare either the preceding Friday or following Monday as the state day.
State Motto – “In God We Trust”
State Nickname – Sunshine State
State Anthem – “Florida (Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky)”
State Song – “Old Folks at Home”
State Flower – Orange Blossom
State Fruit – Orange
State Beverage – Orange Juice
State Dessert – Strawberry Shortcake
State Pie – Key Lime Pie
State Tree – Sabal Palm
State Wildflower – Tickseed (Coreopsis)
State Bird – Northern Mockingbird
State Saltwater Fish – Atlantic Sailfish
State Freshwater Fish – Florida Largemouth Bass
State Saltwater Mammal – Dolphin
State Animal – Florida Panther
State Horse – Florida Cracker Horse
State Rodeo – Silver Spurs Rodeo (Kissimmee, FL)
State Tortoise – Gopher Tortoise
State Marine Mammal – Manatee
State Reptile – American Alligator
State Shell – Horse Conch
State Butterfly – Zebra Longwing Butterfly
State Saltwater Reptile – Loggerhead Sea Turtle
State Stone – Agatized Coral
State Gem – Moonstone
State Soil – Myakka Fine Sand
