Minnesota State Symbols--Unofficial, Proposed, or Facetious

Information relating to unofficial, proposed, or facetious Minnesota state symbols. Includes statutory citations, some legislative history, and citations to sources of additional information available in the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.

See also a separate list of official symbols.

AMPHIBIAN:

The Northern leopard frog was proposed as the Minnesota state amphibian by HF737 in 1999 and by HF3471/SF3103 in 1998.

AMUSEMENT RIDE:

In 2007, legislation was offered in the form of HF2354 to make the Tilt-A-Whirl the official state amusement ride.

ANIMAL/MAMMAL:

Legislation has been offered designating both the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus borealis), proposed at least eight times, and the Eastern timber wolf (Canis lupus), proposed at least six times, as the official Minnesota animal or mammal.

White-Tailed Deer 1989 HF573/SF152 SF41 1988 HF2107/SF1623 1987 HF982/SF179 1987 SF1602 1985 SF1426 1977 HF749 1973 HF142/SF291 1971 SF250		Eastern Timber Wolf 2000 HF3508/SF3648 1989 SF288 1987 HF1663/SF1039 1985 SF1316 1973 SF340 1969 SF104

In addition, amendments have been introduced to designate the 13-lined ground squirrel (Citellus tridecemlineatus) as the state animal/mammal instead of the white-tailed deer. Such amendments were introduced in 1977 (attempt to amend HF 749 on page 1242 of the 1977-1978 House Journal) and in 1973 (attempt to amend HF142 on page 290 of the 1973-1974 House Journal).

In 2000, Minnesota schoolchildren voted on whether the state mammal should be the wolf, the white-tailed deer or the gopher. The wolf received 208 votes; the deer got 129 votes and the gopher got 80.

A newspaper clipping from 1973 documents a citizen proposal to designate the wood tick as the official state animal. “If it were … since the loon is already the official state bird, we’d be the loon-and-tick state …” (St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 18, 1973, page 4).

In 2011, a bill was introduced to make the black bear the official state mammal.

BEER:

In 1987, competing bills proposed designating a state beer. HF288/SF303 proposed Schell’s Deer Brand beer, while HF671 suggested Cold Spring beer.

BOOK:

In 1990, HF2663 proposed the Laura Ingalls Wilder’s book Little House on the Prairie be selected as the Minnesota state book. In 1992, HF1708/SF1592 suggested that On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder should be the state book.

CANDY:

In 1997, licorice was proposed as the state candy in HF144.

COIN:

For a ten-year period from 1999 through 2008, the United States Mint commemorated each state by releasing a quarter honoring each state. Minnesota's quarter was released in 2005. The Minnesota coin design was selected by the members of the Minnesota State Quarter Commission.

FOLK DANCE:

In 1992 (HF2251/SF2013) and in 1994 (HF2089/SF1699), the square dance was proposed as the state folk dance.

FOSSIL:

Legislation was introduced in 1988 (SF1701/HF2653) which would have designated the Giant Beaver (Castoroides ohioensis) as the Minnesota state fossil.

Legislators suggested that the rynchotrema, the trilobite and the bison should all be considered as the state fossil in 1988, but legislation was not introduced.

INSECT:

Clippings suggest a variety of insects as the state insect; however, no legislation has been introduced. Among the suggestions are the mosquito, the wood tick, the no-see-um and the corn borer.

MINERAL:

In 1990, HF2716 proposed that iron ore should be designated the Minnesota state mineral.

NICKNAME/SLOGAN:

Three nicknames are used to refer to the state of Minnesota: The Gopher State; Land of 10,000 Lakes; and the North Star State.

In February 1858, the new Minnesota Legislature introduced the “Five Million Loan” bill. The purpose of the bill was to provide money to build railroads in the state. A highly controversial proposal, the bill ultimately passed. During the public debate, a cartoon was circulated depicting the railroad tycoons as nine gophers with human heads pulling a Gopher Train. Minnesota’s nickname “ the gopher state” came from this 1857 cartoon. A full description of the Five Million Loan may be found in William Watts Folwell, A History of Minnesota, Volume II (St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1961), pages 37-58. In fact, the nickname refers to the “striped gopher” which is not actually a gopher, but is a thirteen-lined ground squirrel.

High resolution cartoon

Minnesota is called the “land of 10,000 lakes” despite the fact that there are 11,842 lakes larger than 10 acres in size in the state. The legend of Paul Bunyan gives Paul and Babe the Blue Ox credit for creating the lakes with their footprints. In reality, Minnesota’s many lakes were created by the filling of depressions in the Minnesota landscape when four large glacier systems melted. Read more about it: House Information, Minnesota State Government Series: State Profile.

In 1959, HF437 was introduced proposing that the official state slogan should be “your vacation and convention dollar goes further in Minnesota.” The bill was amended to add, following the word Minnesota, the phrase “-No Sales Tax!”.

PARASITE:

In 1977, Senator Jack Davies considered offering an amendment to HF970 proposing the leech as the Minnesota state parasite.

REPTILE:

The Blanding’s turtle was proposed as the Minnesota state amphibian by HF737 in 1999 and by HF3471/SF3103 in 1998.

SOIL:

In 1987, although the Minnesota Legislature was not involved, the Minnesota Association of Professional Soil Scientists designated Lester loam as the state soil.

SOUP:

In 1998, wild rice soup was proposed as the official state soup by SF3419.