Tennessee Symbols Do you know what a symbol is? Do you know what a symbol is? A symbol is something...

Tennessee SymbolsTennessee Symbols Do you know Do you know

what a symbol what a symbol is? is?

A symbol is A symbol is something that something that makes people makes people

think of think of something else.something else.

For example, if you are a fan of the Tennessee Volunteers, you know by now that one of their symbols is a big orange “T.”

Another one of Another one of their symbols is their symbols is

Smokey the Smokey the blue-tick hound blue-tick hound

dog. dog.

Even if you Even if you don’t root for don’t root for

the Volunteers, the Volunteers, it is hard not to it is hard not to

like Smokey.like Smokey.

Tennessee’s NicknameTennessee’s Nickname

Tennessee’s nickname is:Tennessee’s nickname is:

The Volunteer StateThe Volunteer State The nickname originated during The nickname originated during

the War of 1812.the War of 1812. The volunteer soldiers from The volunteer soldiers from Tennessee, serving under Gen. Tennessee, serving under Gen. Andrew Jackson, displayed Andrew Jackson, displayed great bravery in the Battle of great bravery in the Battle of New Orleans. New Orleans.

The Tennessee The Tennessee state flagstate flag

Many things are symbols of Many things are symbols of Tennessee, and the most important Tennessee, and the most important of these is the flag. It’s a pretty of these is the flag. It’s a pretty simple flag, with a red body simple flag, with a red body surrounding a circle with three stars surrounding a circle with three stars on it. on it.

•The three stars represent the three Grand Divisions of

Tennessee•West-Middle-East

The state bird The state bird a mockingbirda mockingbird

The state wild The state wild animal is the animal is the

raccoon. In fact, raccoon. In fact, there was a time there was a time

when boys in when boys in Tennessee used to Tennessee used to

wear “coonskin wear “coonskin caps” – hats made caps” – hats made

from raccoon fur.from raccoon fur.

The iris The iris The iris is the state flower.The iris is the state flower.

A box turtle The state reptile is the box

turtle.

A tulip poplar

blossom

The state tree is the tulip poplar.

The State Insects

Tennessee has two official state insects: the firefly and the ladybug.

The reddish-orange ladybug has The reddish-orange ladybug has distinctive distinctive black spots on black spots on each wing cover. It each wing cover. It helps farmers by helps farmers by controlling insect controlling insect pests.pests.

The firefly gives a luminescent light easily The firefly gives a luminescent light easily seen on summer evenings. seen on summer evenings.

The light The light is a natural form of is a natural form of incandescent incandescent light which man light which man has never has never completely completely duplicated.duplicated.

The State SongsThe State Songs

Music is such an integral part of Tennessee's Music is such an integral part of Tennessee's heritage that there are not one, but five heritage that there are not one, but five official state songs: official state songs:

My Homeland, Tennessee ...My Homeland, Tennessee ... When It's Iris Time in Tennessee ...When It's Iris Time in Tennessee ... My Tennessee ...My Tennessee ... Tennessee Waltz ... Tennessee Waltz ... and Rocky Top. and Rocky Top.

The passion The passion flower (genus flower (genus PassifloraPassiflora) was ) was declared the declared the

state state wildflower in wildflower in

1973.1973.

The State WildflowerThe State Wildflower

Limestone, found just about Limestone, found just about everywhere in Tennessee, was everywhere in Tennessee, was declared the official state rock in declared the official state rock in 1979. 1979.

Tennessee marble, as the Tennessee marble, as the metamorphic version of limestone is metamorphic version of limestone is known, is widely used in public and known, is widely used in public and private buildings.private buildings.

The State The State RockRock

In Tennessee's early In Tennessee's early history, four different history, four different towns served as the seat towns served as the seat of government: of government: Knoxville, Kingston, Knoxville, Kingston, Murfreesboro and Murfreesboro and Nashville. Nashville was Nashville. Nashville was chosen as the chosen as the permanent capital city in permanent capital city in 1843. The capitol 1843. The capitol building was designed building was designed architect William architect William Strickland, who died Strickland, who died during its construction during its construction and is buried within its and is buried within its walls.walls.The State CapitolThe State Capitol

Tennessee river pearls are taken from mussels Tennessee river pearls are taken from mussels in the fresh water rivers and come in various in the fresh water rivers and come in various shapes and colors. Unlike cultured pearls, shapes and colors. Unlike cultured pearls, which are partially man-made, these pearls are which are partially man-made, these pearls are totally made by the mussel. They are 100% totally made by the mussel. They are 100% natural pearl all the way through. natural pearl all the way through.

The State GemThe State Gem

The Roman numerals XVI signify that The Roman numerals XVI signify that Tennessee was the 16th state to enter Tennessee was the 16th state to enter the Union. the Union.

The plow, the sheaf of wheat and a cotton The plow, the sheaf of wheat and a cotton stalk symbolize the importance of stalk symbolize the importance of agricultureagriculture

The riverboat shows the importance of The riverboat shows the importance of river traffic to commerce. river traffic to commerce.

The State Seal

How well do How well do you know your you know your

state?state?Tennessee

Just the Facts

What is the state bird?What is the state bird?

A) MockingbirdA) MockingbirdB) SparrowB) SparrowC) WoodpeckerC) Woodpecker

A) The state bird A) The state bird a mockingbirda mockingbird

What are the state insects?What are the state insects?

A) Mosquito and WaspA) Mosquito and WaspB) Spider and antB) Spider and antC) Ladybug and FireflyC) Ladybug and Firefly

The State Insects Tennessee has two official state insects: C) the firefly and the ladybug.

What is the state tree?What is the state tree?

A) Tulip PoplarA) Tulip PoplarB) DogwoodB) DogwoodC) MapleC) Maple

A

Tulip poplar

The state tree is the tulip poplar.

Tennessee’s Nickname isTennessee’s Nickname is

A) The Long StateA) The Long StateB) The Volunteer B) The Volunteer StateState

C) Home of the TitansC) Home of the Titans

Tennessee’s NicknameTennessee’s Nickname Tennessee’s nickname is:Tennessee’s nickname is:

BB

The Volunteer The Volunteer StateState

What do the 3 stars on the What do the 3 stars on the state state

flag represent?flag represent?

A) Three PresidentsA) Three Presidents B) The Three syllables in B) The Three syllables in

TennesseeTennessee C) C) the Three Grand Divisions

of Tennessee

C) The three stars represent the three Grand Divisions of

Tennessee

Bonus Bonus Who can name the 3 grand divisions?Who can name the 3 grand divisions?

1)1) WestWest

2)2) MiddleMiddle

3)3) EastEast

Where do we live? Where do we live?

2) Middle2) Middle

What is our State Animal?What is our State Animal?

A) BearA) BearB) RaccoonB) RaccoonC) Hound dogC) Hound dog

Our State Our State AnimalAnimal

is is

B) RaccoonB) Raccoon

What is our state flower?What is our state flower?

A) IrisA) IrisB) RoseB) RoseC) CarnationC) Carnation

A) The Iris A) The Iris

What is the state reptile?What is the state reptile?

A) SalamanderA) SalamanderB) RattlesnakeB) RattlesnakeC) Box turtleC) Box turtle

C) box turtle

What is our state What is our state wildflower? wildflower?

A) DandelionA) DandelionB) Passion flowerB) Passion flowerC) SunflowerC) Sunflower

B) The B) The passion passion flowerflower

What is our state rock? What is our state rock?

A) LimestoneA) LimestoneB) Moon RockB) Moon RockC) QuartzC) Quartz

The State Rock isThe State Rock is

A) LimestoneA) Limestone

Where is our state capital Where is our state capital located? located?

A) KnoxvilleA) KnoxvilleB) PortlandB) PortlandC) NashvilleC) Nashville

The State The State Capitol is Capitol is located in located in

C) NashvilleC) Nashville

Tennessee State Gem isTennessee State Gem is

A) PearlA) PearlB) RubyB) RubyC) DiamondC) Diamond

The State Gem The State Gem isis

A) PearlA) Pearl

On the state seal what Roman On the state seal what Roman numeral is on it? numeral is on it?

A) 3A) 3B) 16B) 16C) 12C) 12

B) The Roman numerals XVI or 16 B) The Roman numerals XVI or 16 was the 16th state to enter the was the 16th state to enter the Union. Union.

The State Seal

Congratulations!!Congratulations!!

Our Governor, Phil Bredesen, would like to Our Governor, Phil Bredesen, would like to congratulate you on learning so much congratulate you on learning so much about our great state of Tennessee. about our great state of Tennessee.

You must be very proud to be a You must be very proud to be a Tennessean!!Tennessean!!