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Nebraska State Symbols, Songs, and Emblems

For the latest symbols information, visit the NETSTATE CHRONICLE.

Designation Symbol / Emblem AdoptedList by adoption year

Sources...

University of Nebraska: Lincoln. Nebraska State Symbols <http://snr.unl.edu/data/misc/nebraskasymbols.asp> (Accessed August 03, 2010)
Nebraska Secretary of State. Nebraska State Symbols <http://www.sos.state.ne.us/ne_symbols.html> (Accessed August 03, 2010)
Shankle, George Earlie. State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers, and Other Symbols. Irvine, Calif.: Reprint Services Corp, Revised edition, 1971.
Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide Third Edition, Revised and Expanded. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 3 Sub edition, 2001.

Flower Goldenrod (Solidago serotina) 1895
Poet laureate John G. Neihardt (1881-1973), named by 1921 Nebraska Legislature. 1921
Flag Find out more... 1925
Bird Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) 1929
Fossil Mammoth (Mammuthus columbi) 1967
Gem stone Blue agate 1967
Great seal Find out more... 1967
Rock Prairie agate 1967
Grass Little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius) 1969
Tree Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) 1972
Insect Honeybee (Apis mellifica) 1975
Soil Holdredge series 1979
Mammal White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) 1981
Poet William Kloefkorn, of Lincoln, was named Nebraska's first state poet by proclamation of Gov. Charles Thone on Sept. 11, 1982. 1982
American folk dance Square dance 1997
Ballad "A Place Like Nebraska," by Sol Kutler 1997
Baseball capital Wakefield 1997
Fish Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) 1997
Historic Baseball Capital St. Paul 1997
Village of Lights Cody, declared by Governor Ben Nelson on On December 11, 1997. 1997
Beverage Milk 1998
River Platte River 1998
Soft drink Kool-Aid 1998
Song "Beautiful Nebraska," words by Jim Fras and Guy G. Miller, music by Jim Fras 1967
2008

Designating symbols in Nebraska

Contrary to the practices of other states, the Governor of Nebraska has been empowered to designate official state "items." In 1997, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature granted the Governor this authority by an act of law. Section 90-119 of the Nebraska Statutes reads:

90-119. Governor; designate official state items.

The Governor may designate official state items, including animals, plants, minerals, and other things. Legislative approval of any such designation is not required. Any designation made on or prior to September 13, 1997, is not affected by this section.

Source

Laws 1997, LB 106, § 1.

Those who wish the promote a new state symbol in Nebraska might want to consider working through the office of the Governor.

Making laws in Nebraska

Nebraska is the only state that does not have a two-house (House & Senate) legislature. The Nebraska Unicameral Legislature provides a comprehensive section About the Legislature that includes information about the legislative process to help us understand how laws are made in Nebraska.

In addition to this section, the Legislature has provided a section on Student Programs including the Unicameral Youth Legislature, a four-day legislative simulation for ages 14-17 in which students take on the role of lawmakers. A complete list of Publications includes Unicam Kids: A Student Guide to the Nebraska Legislatureadobe document. Publications, in printed form, can also be ordered from the Unicameral Information Service.

Additional Information

Nebraska State Symbols: from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, School of Natural Resources.

Nebraska State Symbols: from the Nebraska Secretary of State.

Nebraska's State Symbolsadobe document: Portion of the Nebraska Blue Book provided by the Nebraska Legislature.

Nebraska State Symbolsadobe document: Nebraska Trailblazer, No. 15 provided by the Nebraska State Historical Society, includes historical information and word search game.

Nebraska Facts and Symbols
Nebraska
Facts and Symbols

Emily McAuliffe

Nebraska Facts and Symbols, by Emily McAuliffe. 24 pages. Publisher: Capstone Press; Rev Upd edition (August 2003) Reading level: Grades 3-4. Interest level: Grades 3-9. Perfect for report writing! Easy-to-read text covers major Nebraska symbols such as the state flag, seal, bird, tree, flower, animal, and more. A "Fast Facts" section highlights the state's capital city, largest city, physical size, population, natural resources, farm products, and primary manufactured goods. Also included are full-page maps that introduce the concept of the map key, which is great for teaching map-reading skills.

State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols
State Names, Seals
Flags and Symbols

Benjamin F. Shearer
Barbara S. Shearer

State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols, by Benjamin F. Shearer, Barbara S. Shearer. 544 pages. Greenwood Press; 3 Sub edition (October 30, 2001) This is one of the best, and most comprehensive, books we could find about the official state names and nicknames, mottoes, seals, flags, capitols, flowers, trees, birds, songs, and miscellaneous designations of each state. This, coupled with the 1938 Shankle book, formed the basis of our symbol library. If you're serious about your states symbols, you'll want to have this book and the one below. This book also contains information about state holidays, license plates, sports teams, universities and other trivia.

State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers, and Other Symbols, by George Earlie Shankle. 522 pages. Reprint Services Corp; Revised edition (June 1971) Reprint of the 1938 revised edition. The first comprehensive book about our state symbols! From the preface: "This book grew out of the desire of its author to know, about his native state, a great many facts which he found exceedingly difficult to obtain. After three years of research in the Library of Congress, he is able to give to the public this storehouse of information, which could have been gathered from not library less fertile in source material..."

Visit the NETSTATE Nebraska State Book Store for additional Nebraska related books, including Nebraska Reference Books, History, Biographies and Cookbooks.

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