"Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto": The state motto is "Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto" which is Latin for "Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law."

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Nearly 100 years after achieving statehood, Missouri adopted an official flag on March 22, 1913. The flag was designed by the late Mrs. Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver, wife of former State Senator R. B. Oliver. The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of red, white and blue. These represent valor, purity, vigilance and justice. In the center white stripe is the Missouri coat-of-arms, circled by a blue band containing 24 stars, denoting that Missouri was the 24th state.

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White Hawthorn Blossom: The white hawthorn blossom is the official state floral emblem of Missouri. Known as the "red haw" or "white haw," the hawthorn (crateagus) is a member of the great rose family, which resembles the apple group. The hawthorn blossoms have greenish-yellow centers and form in white clusters. More than 75 species of the hawthorn grow in Missouri, particularly in the Ozarks.

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Bluebird: On March 30, 1927, the native bluebird became the official state bird of Missouri. The bluebird, considered a symbol of happiness, is usually 6 1/2 to 7 inches long. While its upper parts are covered with light blue plumage, its breast is cinnamon red, turning rust-colored in the fall. The bluebird is common in Missouri from early spring until late November.

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Channel Catfish: On May 23, 1997, the channel catfish was designated as the official fish of Missouri. The channel catfish is slender, with a deeply forked tail. Young have spots that disappear with age. The catfish does not rely on sight to find its food; instead it uses cat-like whiskers to assist in the hunt. The channel cat is the most abundant large catfish in Missouri streams. Its diet include animal and plant materials. Adults are normally 12 to 32 inches long and weigh from a half-pound to 15 pounds.

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Paddlefish: The Paddlefish became Missouri's official aquatic animal on May 23, 1997. Only three rivers in Missouri support substantial populations of the paddlefish; the Mississippi, Missouri and the Osage. They are also present in some of the state's larger lakes. The paddlefish is primitive, with a cartilage skeleton, rather than bone. They commonly exceed five feet in length and weights of 60 pounds; 20-year olds are common and some live 30 years or more.

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Flowering Dogwood: On June 20, 1955, the flowering dogwood (Cornus Florida L.) became Missouri's official tree. The tree is small in size, rarely growing over 40 feet in height or 18 inches in diameter. The dogwood sprouts tiny greenish-yellow flowers in clusters, with each flower surrounded by four white petals. The paried, oval leaves are olive green above and covered with silvery hairs underneath. In the fall, the upper part of the leaves turns scarlet or orange and bright red fruits grow on the tree.

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Missouri Mule: The Missouri Mule is the Missouri official state animal. It is a hybrid, the offspring of a mare (female horse) and a jack (male donkey). After its introduction to the state in the 1820s, the mule quickly became popular with farmers and settlers because of its hardy nature. Missouri mules pulled pioneer wagons to the Wild West during the 19th century and played a crucial role in moving troops and supplies in World Wars I and II. For decades, the Missouri was the nation's premier mule producer.

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Square Dance The square dance was adopted as Missouri's official American folk dance on May 31, 1995. Square dances are derived from folk and courtship dances brought to the United States by European immigrants. Lively music and callers are hallmarks of square dancing. The caller directs the dancers by singing the names of figures and steps to be performed.

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Honeybee: On July 3, 1985, Governor John Ashcroft signed a bill designating the honeybee as Missouri's state insect. The honeybee, (Apis mellifera) yellow or orange and black in color, is a social insect which collects nectar and pollen from flower blossoms in order to produce honey. The honeybee is common to Missouri and is cultivated by beekeepers for honey production.

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Fiddle The fiddle became the state's official musical instrument on July 17, 1987. Brought to Missouri in the late 1700s by fur traders and settlers, the fiddle quickly became popular. The instrument was adaptable to many forms of music, could be played without extensive formal training and was light and easy to carry. For generations, the local fiddle player was the sole source of entertainment in many communities and held a position of great respect in the region.

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Eastern Black Walnut: The nut produced by the black walnut tree, the eastern black walnut, became the state tree nut on July 9, 1990. The nut has a variety of uses. The meat is used in ice cream, baked goods and candies. The shell provides the soft grit abrasive used in metal cleaning and polishing and oil well drilling, and is also used in paint products and as a filler in dynamite.

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Taum Sauk, Missouri, 1,772

Geologists say that Taum Sauk is unique among state highpoints in that it has never been under the ocean or under a glacier (not even Everest and McKinley can claim that!).

Taum Sauk (and the Ozarks) are also unique in that they run east-west (most mountain ranges run north-south).

Taum Sauk is made of rhyloite -- very similar in appearance to granite except that the crystals are much smaller. Rhyolite which is found all over the world is formed from the cooling of volcanic magma and consists of chunks of feldspar and quartz. Outcroppings of this rhyolite is celebrated at a couple of nearby Missouri state parks at Johnson Shut-Ins and at Elephant Rocks.

The area is still not silent geologically speaking. The most powerful earthquake recorded in North America occurred in the early 1800's 50 miles east at New Madrid, Missouri and caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards!

Geologists say that given the Midwest's fragile geology, if this fault acts up again, it would devastate a swath from Memphis to St. Louis to Chicago to Kansas City (in contrast an earthquake of similar size in California or Alaska would be relatively localized because of more dense rock formations there).

Historically, Confederate General Sterling Price lost the state of Missouri in a battle 10 miles north of the summit at Pilot Knob/Fort Davidson. Price went on to lose a battle literally on Mississippi's highest point.

Ulysses S. Grant (who was also at the Mississippi battle) extolled the virtues of the area and its cool streams.

Jesse James may have hid out around Taum Sauk when he robbed the Ironton train (which is celebrated in "The Ballad of Jesse James" song).

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Missouri Waltz
Written by James Royce Shannon
Music by John Valentine Eppel as arranged by Frederick Knight Logan

Hush-a-bye, ma baby, slumber time is comin' soon;
Rest yo' head upon my breast, while mommy hums a tune;
The sandman is callin', where shadows are fallin',
While the soft breezes sigh as in days long gone by.

Way down in Missouri where I heard this melody,
When I was a little child on my mommy's knee;
The old folks were hummin', their banjos were strummin'
So sweet and low.

Strum, strum, strum, strum, strum,
Seems I hear those banjos playin' once again,
Hum, hum, hum, hum, hum,
That same old plaintive strain.
Hum, hum, hum, hum, hum,
That same old plaintive strain.

Hear that mournful melody,
It just haunts you the whole day long,
And you wander in dreams, back to Dixie, it seems,
When you hear that old song.

Hush a-bye, my baby, go to sleep on Mommy's knee,
Journey back to Dixieland in dreams again with me;
It seems like your Mommy is there again,
And the old folks were strummin' that old refrain.

Way down in Missouri where I learned this lullaby,
When the stars were blinkin' and the moon was climbin' high,
Seems I hear voices low, as in days long ago
Singin' hush a-bye.

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The Great Seal was designed by Judge Robert William Wells and adopted by the Missouri General Assembly on January 11, 1822. The center of the state seal is composed of two parts. On the right is the United States coat-of-arms containing the bald eagle. In its claws are arrows and olive branches, signifying that the power of war and peace lies with the U.S. federal government.

On the left side of the shield, the state side, are a grizzly bear and a silver crescent moon. The crescent symbolizes Missouri at the time of the state seal's creation, a state of small population and wealth which would increase like the new or crescent moon; it also symbolizes the "second son," meaning Missouri was the second state formed out of the Louisiana Territory.

This shield is encircled by a belt inscribed with the motto, "United we stand, divided we fall," which indicates Missouri's advantage as a member of the United States. The two grizzlies on either side of the shield symbolize the state's strength and its citizens' bravery. The bears stand on a scroll with the state motto, "Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto," meaning, "Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law." Below the scroll are the Roman numerals for 1820, the year Missouri became a state.

The helmet above the shield represents state sovereignty, and the large star atop the helmet surrounded by 23 smaller stars signified Missouri's status as the 24th state. The cloud around the large star indicates the problems Missouri had in becoming a state. The whole state seal is enclosed by a scroll bearing the words, "The Great Seal of the State of Missouri."

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Missouri Sports Teams:
Missouri High School, College, League, and Professional Sports


College

• Central Missouri State Mules - Warrensburg
• Missouri Tigers - Columbia
• Southwest Missouri State Bears - Springfield