NH ALMANAC: STATE SYMBOLS
– New Hampshire State Symbols
Emblem & Motto
– New Hampshire State Emblem and motto with example, from NH Almanac
– Example of State Emblem (NH) from 1977 NH General Court Manual
Seal
– Example of State Seal (NH) black and white from NH General Court Manual
– Example of State Seal from NH General Court Manual (in color)
– Description of NH State Seal, from NH General Court Manual
– History of the Seal and Flag of the State of NH, by Otis Grant, 1916, Internet Archive
– NH Missing Places: When New Hampshire is Really Maine (about State seal & flag)
Flag
– Example of State Flag from NH (in color) from 1977 NH General Court Manual
– History of the Seal and Flag of the State of NH, by Otis Grant, 1916, Internet Archive
– NH Missing Places: When New Hampshire is Really Maine (about State seal & flag)
Flower & Wildflower
– 3:5 State Flower: The purple lilac, Syringa Vulgaris, is the official flower of New Hampshire
– RSA 3:17 State Wildflower. The pink lady’s slipper, Cypripedium acaule, is hereby designated as the official state wildflower of New Hampshire
-This should be our State flower-
Found Only in New Hampshire: Robbins Cinquefoil
Tree
RSA 3:6 State Tree. The white birch tree, Betula Papyrifera, is the state tree of New Hampshire.
– Official New Hampshire State Tree: White Birch (Betula Papyrifera)
Bird
– RSA 3:10 State Bird. The purple finch is hereby designated as the official state bird of New Hampshire. [Photograph of Purple Finch]
Dog
– RSA 3:25 State Dog. The Chinook is hereby designated as the official state dog of New Hampshire. The Chinook, a sled and work dog, is the only breed to have originated in New Hampshire and one of the few created in America. The breed was started by Arthur Walden in Wonalancet NH in 1917. The bill was the idea of a group of seventh graders at the Ross A. Lurgio Middle School in Bedford.
Animal
– RSA 3:12 State Animal: The white tail deer is hereby designated as the official state animal of New Hampshire
Insect
RSA 3:11 State Insect. The ladybug, also known as the ladybird and the lady beetle, is hereby designated as the official state insect of New Hampshire.
Amphibian
– RSA 3:16 State Amphibian. The spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens, is hereby designated as the official state amphibian of New Hampshire.
Butterfly
RSA 3:18 State Butterfly. The Karner Blue, Lycaeides melissa, subspecies samuelis, is hereby designated as the official state butterfly of New Hampshire.
Saltwater Fish & Freshwater Fish
– RSA 3:19 State Saltwater Game Fish. The striped bass, Roccus saxatilis, is hereby designated as the official state saltwater game fish of New Hampshire
– RSA 3:20 State Freshwater Fish. The Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is designated as the official state freshwater fish
Fruit
RSA 3:24 State Fruit. The pumpkin is hereby designated as the official state fruit of New Hampshire. In 2006, the General Court adopted the pumpkin as the official state fruit. Wells Memorial Elementary School in Harrisville NH was responsible for getting the pumpkin named as the state fruit.
Rock, Mineral, Gem
– RSA 3:13 State Rock. Granite is herby designated as the official state rock of New Hampshire.
Mineral. Beryl is hereby designated as the official state mineral of New Hampshire. Beryl is a gemstone commonly found in the granite rocks abundant in the state. Beryl Crystals are a yellow-green and yellow colors.
– RSA 3:15 State Gem. Smoky quartz is hereby designated as the official state gem of New Hampshire.
Tartan
RSA 3:21 State Tartan. [see detail]
Songs [Yes 10 of them!]
–RSA: 3:7. State Song. The song “Old New Hampshire” with words by Dr. John F. Holmes and music by Maurice Hoffmann is hereby declared to be the state song of New Hampshire.
–RSA: 3:7a. Second State Song. In addition to the state song as provided by section 7 the song “New Hampshire, my New Hampshire” with music by Walter P. Smith and words by Julius Richelson shall be the second state song.
–RSA 3:7-b Third State Song. In addition to the state songs as provided by RSA 3:7 and RSA 3:7-a the song “New Hampshire Hills” with music by Tom Powers and words by Paul Mowrer shall be the third state song.
IV. “Autumn in New Hampshire” with words and music by Leon Austin.
V. “New Hampshire’s Granite State” with words and music by Anne B. Cuttier
VI. “Oh, New Hampshire (you’re my home0” with words and music by Brownie McIntosh
VII. “The Old Man of the Mountain” with words and music by Paul Belanger
VIII. “The New Hampshire State March” with words and music by Rene Richards.
IX. “New Hampshire Naturally” with words and music by Rick Shaw and Ron Shaw
X. “Live Free or Die” with words and music by Barry Palmer.
–HISTORY OF THE STATE SONG. New Hampshire has the unusual distinction of having nine state songs, with one of them being “official” and the others “honorary.” This came about by legislative votes over a quarter of a century, and was finally agreed upon in the 1977 session. Back in 1949, the Legislature adopted “Old New Hampshire” as the official state song. It was written in 1926, with the music by Maurice Hoffman, Jr., organist of the Franklin Street Congregational Church in Manchester, and the words by Dr. John F. Holmes of that city. The 1941 Legislature turned down this song, and the 1943 Legislature killed a bill proposed by Rep. Samuel P. Philbrook of Belmont, for a $1,500 public contest to pick a state song, with a $500 prize for the music and $300 for the words, along with $700 for a team of judges and related expenses. The 1963 Legislature approved a “Second State Song.” It was “New Hampshire, My New Hampshire,” by Julius Richelson and Walter P. Smith of Plymouth. Then the 1973 Legislature added a “Third State Song.” It was “New Hampshire Hills,” with the music by Tom Powers of Detroit, Michigan, son of retired Director Edward Powers of the State Sweepstakes Commission, and the late Paul S. Maurer, state poet laureate. The 1977 Legislature voted two unusual song laws. Early in March it adopted a “Fourth State Song.” It was “Autumn in New Hampshire,” by Leo Austin of Warner. At the same time the legislators created an interim board to recommend one official state song, with the label “honorary” for each of the others. Rep. Richardson D. Benton of Chester, chairman of the House Committee on Public Protection and Veterans Affairs, became coordinator of a State Song Selection Board. Appointed by the Governor and Council were William E. Elwell of Portsmouth, who became chairman, and Ted Hebert and Robert F. Thibeault of Manchester, along with Senator Robert F. Bossie of Manchester, named by the Senate President, and Rep. Jane F. Sanders of Alton Bay, named by the House Speaker. Three months after this Board was launched, the Legislature enacted another song law, effective June 15. This statute added four more songs to the listing of state songs, with a proviso that if the Board did not designate any of this quartet as the official state song, they would become “honorary.” The Board heard and considered a total of 21 songs, all submitted by New Hampshire residents. Announcement of the name of the official song was made in Representatives Hall on November 29, 1977, when Mrs. Gale Thomson, wife of Governor Meldrim Thomson, Jr., drew the choice from a sealed envelope in which the name had been placed by the Board. The four additional state songs were “New Hampshire’s Granite State” by Annie B. Currier of Londonderry; “Oh, New Hampshire (You’re My Home)” by Brownie McIntosh of Hampton; “The Old Man Of The Mountain” by Paul Belanger of Berlin, and “The New Hampshire State March” by Rene Richards of Nashua. Coordinator Benton officially reported that the Board had voted to give the exclusive title of the official state song to the original state song of “Old New Hampshire,” and this action is officially recorded as a footnote to the law creating eight state songs, in New Hampshire’s Revised Statutes Annotated. In 1983 the Legislature amended RSA 3:7 and added an additional honorary state song “New Hampshire Naturally” with words and music by Rick and Ron Shaw. Adapted from: Manual for the General Court 1981. History. Leon W. Anderson.
– New Hampshire: Where Every Composer Is a Winner
Sport
RSA 3:22 State Sport. Skiing is hereby designated as the official state sport of New Hampshire
Spoof–New Hampshire’s Official State Sport: Ice Fishing?
Vegetable
In 2013 the General Court of NH adopted the white potato as the official state vegetable. Derry Village Elementary School in Derry was responsible for getting the white potato named as the state vegetable after they learned that in 1719, an Irish immigrant brought a sack of seed potatoes to the area, making New Hampshire the first state to cultivate the white potato.
Beverage
Official New Hampshire State Beverage: Apple Cider
