Flags and Other Symbols

Texas is often referred to as the Lone Star State because its flag bears a single star.  Updated 2 years ago
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Texas Flags

Texas Flags

Texas often is called the Lone Star State because of its state flag with a single star. This was also the flag of the Republic of Texas. The information about historic Texas flags, the current flag and other Texas symbols may be supplemented by information available from the Texas State Library.

Pledge to the Texas Flag

A pledge to the Texas flag was adopted by the 43rd Legislature. It contained a phrase, "Flag of 1836," which inadvertently referred to the David G. Burnet flag instead of the Lone Star Flag adopted in 1839. In 2007, the 80th Legislature changed the pledge to its current form:

"Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas,
one state under God, one and indivisible
."

A person reciting the pledge to the state flag should face the flag, place the right hand over the heart and remove any easily removable hat. The pledge to the Texas flag may be recited at all public and private meetings at which the pledge of allegiance to the national flag is recited and at state historical events and celebrations. The pledge to the Texas flag should be recited after the pledge of allegiance to the United States flag if both are recited.

The Texas Flag Code, click here . . .

State Song

The state song of Texas is "Texas, Our Texas." The music was written by the late William J. Marsh (who died Feb. 1, 1971, in Fort Worth at age 90), and the words by Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright, also of Fort Worth. It was the winner of a state song contest sponsored by the legislature and was adopted in 1929. The wording has been changed once: Shortly after Alaska became a state in Jan. 1959, the word "Largest" in the third line was changed by Mr. Marsh to "Boldest." The text follows:

Texas, Our Texas

Texas, our Texas! all hail the mighty State!
Texas, our Texas! So wonderful, so great!
Boldest and grandest, Withstanding ev'ry test;
O Empire wide and glorious, You stand supremely blest.

Chorus
God bless you, Texas!
And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth,
Thro'out the ages long.

Refrain
Texas, O Texas! Your freeborn Single Star,
Sends out its radiance To nations near and far.
Emblem of freedom! It sets our hearts aglow,
With thoughts of San Jacinto And glorious Alamo.

Texas, dear Texas! From tyrant grip now free,
Shines forth in splendor Your Star of Destiny!
Mother of Heroes! We come your children true,
Proclaiming our allegiance, Our Faith, Our Love for you.

State Motto

The state motto of Texas is "Friendship." The word, Texas, or Tejas, was the Spanish pronunciation of a Caddo Indian word meaning "friends" or "allies." (Acts of 1930, fourth called session of the 41st Legislature, p. 105.)

State Citizenship Designation

The people of Texas usually call themselves Texans. However, Texian was generally used in the early period of the state's history.

The Great Seal of Texas, click here  . . .

Texas State Symbols

State Bird

The mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is the state bird of Texas, adopted by the 40th Legislature of 1927 at the request of the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs.

State Flower

The state flower of Texas is the bluebonnet, also sometimes called buffalo clover, wolf flower and el conejo (the rabbit). The bluebonnet was adopted as the state flower, at the request of the Society of Colonial Dames in Texas, by the 27th Legislature in 1901. The original resolution designated Lupinus subcarnosus as the state flower, but a resolution by the 62nd Legislature in 1971 provided legal status as the state flower of Texas for “Lupinus Texensis and any other variety of bluebonnet.”

State Tree

The pecan tree (Carya illinoinensis) is the state tree of Texas. The sentiment that led to its official adoption probably grew out of the request of Gov. James Stephen Hogg that a pecan tree be planted at his grave. The 36th Legislature in 1919 adopted the pecan tree.

Other Symbols

(In 2001, the Legislature placed restrictions on the adoption of future symbols by requiring that a joint resolution to designate a symbol must specify the item’s historical or cultural significance to the state.)

State Air Force

The Commemorative Air Force, based in Midland at Midland International Airport, was proclaimed the state air force of Texas by the 71st Legislature in 1989.

State Amphibian

The Texas toad was named the state amphibian of Texas by the 81st Legislature in 2009.

State Aquarium

The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi was designated the official aquarium of Texas by the 69th Legislature in 1985.

State Bison Herd

The bison herd at Caprock Canyons State Park was named the official Texas State Bison Herd by the 82nd Legislature in 2011.

State Bluebonnet City

The city of Ennis in Ellis County was named the state bluebonnet city by the 75th Legislature in 1997.

State Bluebonnet Festival

The Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival, held in April in Washington County, was named the state bluebonnet festival by the 75th Legislature in 1997.

State Bluebonnet Trail

The city of Ennis was named the state bluebonnet trail by the 75th Legislature in 1997. 

State Botanical Garden

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, in southwest Austin, was named the State Botanic Garden and Arboretum by the 85th Legislature in 2017. Encompassing 279 acres, it is the largest all-native garden in the state and features more than 800 native plant species. 

State Bread

Pan de campo, translated “camp bread” and often called cowboy bread, was named the state bread by the 79th Legislature in 2005. It is a simple baking-powder bread that was a staple of early Texans and often baked in a Dutch oven.

State Cobbler

Peach cobbler was designated the official state cobbler by the 83rd Legislature in 2013. 

State Cooking Implement

The cast iron Dutch oven was named the cooking implement of Texas by the 79th Legislature in 2005.

State Crustacean

Texas Gulf Shrimp was designated the state crustacean by the 84th Legislature in 2015.

State Dinosaur

Paluxysaurus jonesi was proclaimed the state dinosaur by the 81st Legislature in 2009, after it was discovered that the previous state dinosaur, the Brachiosaur Sauropod, Pleurocoelus, (75th Legislature in 1997) had been a misidentification.

State Dish

Chili was proclaimed the Texas state dish by the 65th Legislature in 1977.

State Dog Breed

The Blue Lacy was designated the state dog breed by the 79th Legislature in 2005. The Blue Lacy is a herding and hunting breed descended from greyhound, scent-hound, and coyote stock and developed by the Lacy brothers, who left Kentucky and settled near Marble Falls in 1858.

State Domino Game

The game of 42 was named the state domino game by the 82nd Legislature in 2011.

State Epic Poem

“The Legend of Old Stone Ranch,” written by John Worth Cloud, was named the epic poem of Texas by the 61st Legislature in 1969. The work is a 400-page history of the Albany–Fort Griffin area written in verse form.

State Fiber and Fabric

Cotton was designated the state fiber and fabric by the 75th Legislature in 1997.

State Fish

The Guadalupe bass, a member of the genus Micropterus within the sunfish family, was named the state fish of Texas by the 71st Legislature in 1989. It is one of a group of fish collectively known as black bass.

State Flower Song

“Bluebonnets,” written by Julia D. Booth and Lora C. Crockett, was named the state flower song by the 43rd Legislature in 1933.

State Folk Dance

The square dance was designated the state folk dance by the 72nd Legislature in 1991.

State Footware

The cowboy boot was named the state footware by the 80th Legislature in 2007.

State Fruit

The Texas red grapefruit was designated the state fruit by the 73rd Legislature in 1993.

State Gem

Texas blue topaz, the state gem of Texas, is found in the Llano uplift area in Central Texas, especially west to northwest of Mason. It was designated by the 61st Legislature in 1969.

State Gemstone Cut

The Lone Star Cut was named the state gemstone cut by the 65th Legislature in 1977.

State Grass

Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), a native grass found on many different soils, was designated the state grass of Texas by the 62nd Legislature in 1971. 

State Handgun

The 1847 Colt Walker pistol was named the state handgun by the 87th Legislature in 2021.

State Hashtags

#Texas (state), #TexasToDo (tourism), and #txlege (legislature) were all proclaimed state hashtags by the 84th Legislature in 2015.

State Hat

The cowboy hat was named the state hat of Texas by the 84th Legislature in 2015.

State Health Nut

The pecan was designated the state nut by the 77th Legislature in 2001.

State Horse

The American Quarter Horse was named the state horse by the 81st Legislature in 2009.

State Insect

The Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) was designated the state insect by the 74th Legislature in 1995.

State Knife

The 87th Legislature designated the Bowie knife our official state knife in 2021.

State Longhorn Herd

The foundation herd of Texas longhorns at Fort Griffin State Park was named the official state longhorn herd by the 61st Legislature in 1969.

State Mammals

The armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) was designated the state small mammal; the longhorn was designated the state large mammal; and the Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) was designated the state flying mammal by the 74th Legislature in 1995. 

State Maritime Museum

The Texas Maritime Museum in Rockport was designated the offical state maritime museum by the 70th Legislature in 1987.

State Mushroom

The Texas Star Mushroom (Chorioactis geaster) was recognized as the official state mushroom by the 87th Legislature in 2021.

State Music

Western swing was named the state's official music  by the 82nd Legislature in 2011.

State Musical Instrument

The guitar was named the state musical instrument by the 75th Legislature in 1997.

State Native Pepper

The chiltepin was named the native pepper of Texas by the 75th Legislature in 1997.

State Native Shrub

The Texas purple sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) was designated the state native shrub by the 79th Legislature in 2005.

State Nickname

"The Lone Star State" was designated the state nickname of Texas by the 84th Legislature in 2015.

State Pastries

Both the sopaipilla and strudel were named the state pastries of Texas by the 78th Legislature in 2003.

State Pepper

The jalapeño pepper was designated the state pepper by the 74th Legislature in 1995.

State Pie

Pecan pie was named the state pie by the 83rd Legislature in 2013.

State Plant

The prickly pear cactus was named the state plant by the 74th Legislature in 1995.

State Plays

The four official state plays of Texas are The Lone Star, Texas, Beyond the Sundown, and Fandangle. They were designated by the 66th Legislature in 1979.

State Pollinator 

The Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) was designated the official pollinator of Texas by the 84th Legislature in 2015.

State Precious Metal

Silver was named the state precious metal by the 80th Legislature in 2007. 

State Railroad

The Texas State Railroad was designated the state railroad by the 78th Legislature in 2003. It is a steam powered tourist excursion train that runs between the towns of Rusk and Palestine.

State Reptile

The Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) was named the state reptile by the 73rd Legislature in 1993.

State Rodeo Drill Team

The Ghostriders team based in Canton was named the state rodeo drill team by the 80th Legislature in 2007.

State Saltwater Fish

The red drum was designated the state saltwater fish by the 82nd Legislature in 2011.

State Sea Turtle

Kemp's Ridley sea turtle was designated the state sea turtle by the 83rd Legislature in 2013.

State Seashell

The lightning whelk (Busycon perversum pulleyi) was named the official state seashell by the 70th Legislature in 1987. One of the few shells that open on the left side, the lightning whelk is named for its colored stripes. It is found on the Gulf Coast.

State Ship

The battleship USS Texas was designated the state ship by the 74th Legislature in 1995. The USS Texas was launched on May 18, 1912, from Newport News, Va., and commissioned on March 12, 1914. In 1919, it became the first U.S. battleship to launch an aircraft, and in 1939 it received the first commercial radar in the U.S. Navy. It participated in both World Wars I and II. In 1940, the Texas was designated flagship of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. It was decommissioned on April 21, 1948, and is a National Historic Landmark and a National Mechanical Engineering Landmark. It is at the San Jacinto Battleground near Houston.

State Shrub

The crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) was designated the official state shrub by the 75th Legislature in 1997.

State Snack

Tortilla chips and salsa was designated the official state snack by the 78th Legislature in 2003 at the request of second-grade students in Mission.

State Sport

Rodeo was named the state sport of Texas by the 75th Legislature in 1997. 

State Squash

The pumpkin was named the state squash by the 83rd Legislature in 2013.

State Stone

Petrified palmwood, found in Texas principally in eastern counties near the Texas Gulf Coast, was designated the state stone by the 61st Legislature in 1969. 

State Tall Ship

The Elissa was named the state tall ship by the 79th Legislature in 2005. The 1877 ship makes its home at the Texas Seaport Museum at the port of Galveston.

State Tartan

The Texas Bluebonnet Tartan was named the official state tartan by the 71st Texas Legislature in 1989. 

State 10K

The Texas Roundup 10K was named the official state 10K by the 79th Legislature in 2005 to encourage Texans to exercise and incorporate physical activity into their daily lives.

State Tie

The bolo tie was designated the state tie by the 80th Legislature in 2007.

State Vegetable

The Texas sweet onion was designated the state vegetable by the 75th Legislature in 1997.

State Vehicle

The chuck wagon was named the state vehicle by the 79th Legislature in 2005. Texas rancher Charles Goodnight is credited with inventing the chuck wagon to carry cowboys’ food and supplies on trail drives.

State Waterlily

The Nymphaea Texas Dawn was named the state waterlily by the 82nd Legislature in 2011.

 

 

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