Official Symbols of Nebraska

The name Nebraska comes from the Oto Indian word nebrathka, which was flat water, and was also the Indian name for the Platte River.

	The Great Seal of the State of Nebraska was created in 1867. On the eastern part, a steamboat is ascending the Missouri River. The mechanic arts are represented by a smith with hammer and anvil. Agriculture is represented by a settler's cabin, sheaves of wheat and stalks of growing corn. In the background, a train is heading toward the Rocky Mountains, which are in view in the west. In the top of the circle is the state motto: "Equality Before the Law."
	The Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) was designated the State Bird by legislative action in 1929. The bird is abundant throughout the state, and is noted for its joyous song.
	In 1997, Governor Ben Nelson declared the Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) to be the State Fish.
	The Goldenrod (Solidago serotina) was declared the State Flower by legislative action in 1895. Numerous species of goldenrod grow throughout Nebraska.
	Blue Chalcedony, also known as Blue Agate, was named the State Gemstone by legislative action in 1967. It can be found in northwestern Nebraska, where it formed in wind-blown silt and claystone.
	Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) was designated the State Grass by legislative action in 1969. This vigorous native prairie grass grows throughout the Great Plains and beyond. In central and western Nebraska, it grows in bunches and is sometimes called bunch grass. The grass is an important native hay and forage grass.
	The Honeybee (Apis mellifera) was named the State Insect by legislative action in 1975. Honey production is a major industry in Nebraska, and numerous Nebraska food crops and wild plants depend on honeybees for pollination.
	The 1981 Legislature designated the White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) as the State Mammal. White-tailed deer hunting is a popular recreational activity in Nebraska.
	The 1945 Legislature designated Cornhusker State as the official State Nickname. The name is derived from the method of harvesting, or husking, corn by hand, which was common before the invention of husking machinery.
	The Nebraska commemorative State Quarter features the western Nebraska landmark Chimney Rock. The design has a pioneer family, a covered wagon and Chimney Rock in the background. It honors the vitality, spirit and determination that have long been trademarks of Nebraska. Chimney Rock was known as the most famous landmark on the Oregon-California Trail. The Nebraska Quarter was released to the public on April 3, 2006.
	The Prairie Agate was designated as the State Rock by legislative action in 1967. Nebraska is blessed by an abundance of this semiprecious stone, especially in the Oglala National Grassland.
	Beautiful Nebraska was created in the 1960s by Jim Fras and Guy G. Miller, both of Lincoln. Fras composed the music, and the two men wrote the lyrics. It was designated as the State Song by the 1967 Legislature.
	The Cottonwood was named as the State Tree by the 1972 Legislature. Several famous early landmarks in Nebraska were cottonwood trees, and their shoots were often collected by settlers who planted them on their claims. Today, the cottonwood grows throughout the state.