e-ReferenceDesk's College and 50 State Learning Resource Guide

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State Symbols

The official state symbols represent the cultural heritage and natural treasures of each state or the entire United States

National Symbols

National Symbols

Bird, Creed, Flag, Flower, Justice, The Liberty Bell, National Holiday, Motto, National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, Seal, Songs and Oaths, Supreme Court, Tree, Uncle Sam, US Capitol, White House

United States Uncle Sam

Uncle Sam

Uncle Sam, a figure symbolizing the United States, is portrayed as a tall, white-haired man with a goatee. He is often dressed in red, white, and blue, and wears a top hat.

The exact origins of Uncle Sam as a symbol for the United States are unknown. The term Uncle Sam was originally used as a derogatory term for American troops during the War of 1812. During that war, Samuel "Uncle Sam" Wilson, a businessman from Troy, N.Y., supplied the Army with beef in barrels. The barrels were labeled "US" to show that they belonged to the US government. Perhaps this led to the use of "Uncle Sam" as a nickname for the United States. In 1961, Congress passed a resolution which recognized Samuel Wilson as the inspiration for the symbol Uncle Sam.

The most famous picture of Uncle Sam appeared on an Army recruiting poster. The poster was designed in World War I, and was used again in World War II. The caption reads "I Want You for US Army." James Montgomery Flagg drew this picture, and served as the model too!

To learn more, check out the Library of Congress.

State Symbols

State symbols represent things that are special to a particular state.

symbol \ˈsim-bəl\
noun

Etymology:
in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil
Date: 15th century

1: Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.