S.C. State Emblems

State Bird , State Dog, State Shell , State Fruit

State Beverage , State Flower , State Tree

State Hospitality Beverage , State Garden

State Stone , State Dance , State Folk Dance ,

State Song and State Flag

  TOP PAGE

THE STATE BIRD THE CAROLINA WREN

The Carolina Wren is a member of the family Troglodytidae. It is present in all areas in South Carolina from the coast to the highest mountain. The song; which may be interpreted as "tea-ket-tle, tea-ket-tle, tea-ket-tle;" may be heard they ear-round, day and night, in all kinds of weather. The Carolina Wren is slightly smaller than an English Sparrow and has a conspicuous white stripe over the eyes. The back of its body is roofed with under parts somewhat lighter in color. The tail, which is finely barred with black, is held erect when the bird is excited.

Note: Prior to 1939 "The Carolina Wren" had been unofficially recognized as the State Bird of South Carolina. In 1939 the General Assembly passed an Act (No.311) designating the Mockingbird as the official Bird of the State. Act No. 693, 1948 (1962 Civil Code, Sec.28-2) was passed repealing the 1939 Actinide designating the Carolina Wren as the official State Bird instead of the Mockingbird.

   TOP PAGE

THE STATE DOG The Boykin Spaniel :

The Boykin Spaniel was first bred by South Carolina hunters during the 1900's to provide the ideal dog for hunting ducks and wild turkeys in the Wateree River Swamp. Hunters on South Carolina's Wateree River needed a small rugged dog compactly built for boat travel and able to retrieve on land and water. In those days wagons, wooden boats and trains afforded hunters access to the game rich corridors along the river. But boat travel limited what hunters could carry. The typical heavyweight retriever was a drawback in a craft already loaded with men, guns, provisions and other gear.

THE STATE SHELL THE LETTERED OLIVE :

The Lettered Olive, Oliva Sayana, was designated the official shell of the State by Act No. 360, 1984. Dr.Edmund Ravenel of Charleston, South Carolina, an early pioneer in concholgy, found and named the Lettered Olive shell which is quite prolific along the South Carolina Coast.

THE STATE FRUIT THE PEACH

The General Assembly declared by Act No. 360, 1984, the peach as the official fruit of the State. South Carolina is the nation's leading peach producer and shipper east of the Mississippi River.

     TOP PAGE

THE STATE BEVERAGE MILK

Milk was designated as the official State Beverage by Act No. 360, 1984.

THE STATE FLOWER
THE YELLOW JESSAMINE

Officially adopted by the General Assembly on February 1, 1924, for the following reasons: it is indigenous to every nook and corner of the State; it is the first premonitory of coming Spring; its fragrance greets us first in the woodland and its delicate flower suggests the pureness of gold; its perpetual return out of the dead Winter suggests the lesson of constancy in, loyalty to and patriotism in the service of the State. "No flower that blooms holds such perfume, As kindness and sympathy won. Wherever there grows the sheltering pine Is clinging a Yellow Jessamine vine." From "Legend of the Yellow Jessamine," by Mrs. Teresa Strickland of Anderson, South Carolina, when the flower was made the emblem of Dixie Chapter, U.D.C., about 1906. The "Carolina or Yellow Jessamine" is defined by the New International Encyclopedia as "A climbing plant which grows upon trees and fences and bears a profusion of yellow, funnel-shaped flowers an inch in diameter, with a fragrance similar to that of the true Jasmine." Its odor on a damp evening or morning fills the atmosphere with a rare and delicate sweetness. "As fair as Southern Chivalry As pure as truth, and shaped like stars"

   TOP PAGE

THE STATE TREE THE PALMETTO

Adopted as the "Official State Tree of the State of South Carolina" by Joint Resolution No. 63, approved March 17, 1939. The South Carolina Palmetto is classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as "Inodes Palmetto (also called Sabal Palmetto) and commonly known as the Cabbage Palmetto." It has long been closely associated with the history of South Carolina, being represented on the State Flag as well as on the State Seal, where it is symbolical of the defeat of the British fleet by the fort, built of Palmetto logs, on Sullivan's Island. The Palmetto is an attractive feature of the coastal are as of South Carolina and is also found in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. The large leaf bud is highly prized as a salad vegetable for use in making pickles or relishes, and in Florida some use has been made of the fibers from the leaf bases. Such uses, however, are wasteful since the palm must be destroyed in either case and years must lapse before it can be replaced.

   TOP PAGE

THE OFFICIAL HOSPITALITY BEVERAGE TEA

Officially adopted as the Hospitality Beverage of South Carolina by Act No. 31 on April 10, 1995. Tea (Camellia sinensis) is the world's most popular beverage excepting water. South Carolina is the first place in the United Sates where tea was grown (1799) and is the only State to ever have produced tea commercially.

THE STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN
CLEMSON BOTANICAL GARDEN

The Botanical Garden at Clemson University was designated South Carolina's State Botanical Garden by Act No. 288, 1992. Considered one of the State's most beautiful and diverse public gardens, it's 250 acres are home to wildflower, fern, bog and turf gardens, a pioneer village, a Braille trail and a special garden for the walking impaired. Considered an outstanding educational resource, the Garden has more than 100,000 visitors each year who come to observe, study and explore nature's endless wonders. The Garden hosts numerous cultural events throughout the year, offering a glorious setting "where nature and culture meet."

   TOP PAGE

THE STATE STONE BLUE GRANITE

The General Assembly by Act No. 345 of 1969, adopted the Blue Granite as the official stone of the State. The Act stated that "the blue granite stone of this State has been widely used to beautify all areas of South Carolina."

THE STATE DANCE THE SHAG

The General Assembly by Act No. 329, 1984, designated the Shag as the official dance of the State. The Shag, one of the great developments of terpsichorean culture and native to this State, is performed to music known as rhythm and blues. Both the music and dance are structured on time signature and can be performed to almost any tempo, as long as the basic step is maintained and kept in time to the music.

  TOP PAGE

THE STATE FOLK DANCE THE SQUARE DANCE

The General Assembly by Act No. 329, 1994, designated the Square Dance as the official American Folk Dance of the State. Square dancing is a traditional form of family recreation in South Carolina and is an activity for young and old which has been recorded throughout South Carolina's history. Square dancing is the American Folk Dance which is called, cued, or prompted to the dancers and includes squares, rounds, clogging, contra, line, and heritage dances.

THE STATE SONGS

"Carolina"

Acting on the memorial of the South Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution that the patriotic song "Carolina," written by Henry Timrod, South Carolina's most beloved poet, set to music by Miss Anne Curtis Burgess, be made "legally the State Song." The General Assembly, on February 11, 1911, adopted Senator W.L. Mauldin's Concurrent Resolution that it "be accented and declared to be the State Song of South Carolina."

"South Carolina on My Mind"

"South Carolina on My Mind" created, sung and recorded by Hank Martin and Buzz Arledge, native South Carolinians, was designated by Act No. 302, 1984, as an official State Song.

    TOP PAGE

Copyright © 1996-2004 Hames & Associates 
Last modified: 01/19/04