State
Bird
Rhode Island Red
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The
Rhode Island Red was not Rhode Island's first state bird. In the
1930s the bobwhite was voted as the official state bird, but in
1964 a new state bird was chosen, the Rhode Island Red. The Rhode
Island Red is a type of hen or chicken. This type of hen was bred
in a small town named Little Compton, Rhode Island in 1854. It has
brown feathers, lays brown eggs, and weighs six to nine pounds.
It quickly became known for its delicious meat and the wonderful
quality and quantity of the eggs it laid. The raising of poultry
(chickens and turkeys) became a major industry in the United States
thanks to the Rhode Island Red!
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State
Flower
Violet
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In
1897 school children voted the purple violet as their state flower.
It did not become official until 1968 making Rhode Island the last
state to adopt a state flower. The violet is the state flower for
three other states. It is a perennial flower meaning it lives through
the colder months and blossoms in the spring. Their leaves are heart-shaped
and the flowers grow on separate stems from the leaves. It blooms
in early spring and the flower's color ranges from a deep to medium
purple.
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State
Tree
Red Maple
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Did
you know in the 1890s Rhode Island school children also voted the
Red Maple as the state's tree? However, it didn't become official
until 1964. During the autumn months the tree's leaves can turn
golden, purple, or scarlet red. Rhode Islanders feel the Red Maple
adds to the beauty of their forest during all seasons, especially
in the autumn. But it received its name from the bright red flowers
that bloom on it in late spring. The trees grow throughout eastern
North America. They grow in cold climates like Canada and hot climates
like Texas and Florida. Its leaves are 2 to 6 inches across and
most have three lobes (think of the shape of your ear lobe) sometimes
five lobes. Red Maples can grow to 120 feet in height.
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State
Flag
Click
on flag to view
larger image.
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In
1897, Rhode Island was the third of the original thirteen colonies
to legally adopt a state flag.
Its close neighbors, New York and New Jersey, were first in 1896.
The flag's colors, white and blue, are the same colors flown by
Rhode Island soldiers' during the Revolutionary War, the War of
1812, and the Mexican War. The white also represents the facings
(collars, lapels and cuffs) of the Rhode Island Revolutionary War
uniforms. The thirteen yellow stars represent the thirteen original
states. The anchor has been a symbol of Rhode Island since 1643
maybe because of its 400 miles of coastline and its love for sailing
and boating. The people of Rhode Island may also have gotten the
idea for the anchor from words from the Bible. A blue banner under
the anchor has the state's motto,
"Hope."
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