State Air Force
Commemorative Air Force
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 114, 71st Legislature, Regular Session
What defines Texas?
Official Texas Symbols
Texas has officially designated far more than a bird and a flower. This directory brings the state's legislatively recognized symbols into one readable guide, with dedicated TexasDefined profiles for the symbols that connect most strongly to Texas wildlife, food, history, culture and travel.
77
Current listings
41
Symbol profiles
1901
First designation
The Lone Star flag
Texas's best-known symbol has a Republic-era story of its own.
The state flag is governed separately in the Texas Flag Code rather than being forced into this legislatively designated-symbol directory. Follow the documented path from the Burnet flag to the 1839 Lone Star design, then use the practical guide for display, half-staff, the pledge and position with the U.S. flag.
Texas flag: complete guide →History, meaning, statutory design rules, display guidance and the Lone Star in one search-focused hub.History of the Texas flag →From revolution-era proposals and the Burnet flag through the Republic's 1839 Lone Star design.Texas flag display & etiquette →Position with the U.S. flag, vertical display, half-staff, folding, the pledge and retirement.
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The Texas symbols most people know — and a few they don't
These profiles go beyond the official designation itself, connecting each symbol to the places, landscapes, traditions and other TexasDefined coverage that give it context.
State Amphibian
Texas Toad
The Texas toad is the state's official amphibian, a native species found across much of Texas and recognized by the Legislature in 2009.
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State Bird
Mockingbird
The mockingbird has represented Texas as the official state bird since 1927 and is one of the state's most familiar backyard songbirds.
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State Bison Herd
Texas State Bison Herd at Caprock Canyons State Park
The Texas State Bison Herd at Caprock Canyons State Park preserves a living connection to the southern plains bison that once ranged across Texas.
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State Book
Texas Almanac
The Texas Almanac became the official state book in 2025, formalizing the long-running reference work's place in documenting Texas history, geography, government, and culture.
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State Bread
Pan de Campo
Pan de campo, the camp bread of South Texas ranching tradition, has been the official state bread since 2005.
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State Cobbler
Peach Cobbler
Peach cobbler was designated the official state cobbler in 2013, adding a classic Texas dessert to the state's growing collection of food symbols.
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State Cooking Implement
Cast Iron Dutch Oven
The cast iron Dutch oven is the official state cooking implement, reflecting generations of ranch, camp, and outdoor cooking across Texas.
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State Dinosaur
Paluxysaurus jonesi
Paluxysaurus jonesi was designated the official state dinosaur in 2009, tying the symbol to Texas fossil discoveries and the state's deep natural history.
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State Dish
Chili
Chili has been the official state dish since 1977, recognizing a food tradition deeply associated with Texas cookoffs, cattle country, and regional cooking.
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State Dog Breed
Blue Lacy
The Blue Lacy is the official state dog breed, a working breed developed in Texas and recognized by the Legislature in 2005.
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State Fiber and Fabric
Cotton
Cotton is Texas's official state fiber and fabric, recognizing a crop and industry that have shaped the state's agriculture, trade, and communities.
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State Fish
Guadalupe Bass
The Guadalupe bass is the official state fish and a Texas native strongly associated with clear, flowing Hill Country rivers.
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State Flower
Bluebonnet, Lupinus texensis and any other variety of bluebonnet
The bluebonnet is Texas's official state flower and one of the state's defining springtime images, with the Legislature recognizing multiple bluebonnet varieties.
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State Footwear
Cowboy Boot
The cowboy boot became the official state footwear in 2007, recognizing a practical ranching tool that also became a worldwide symbol of Texas style.
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State Fruit
Texas Red Grapefruit
Texas red grapefruit is the official state fruit, reflecting the citrus-growing legacy of the Rio Grande Valley.
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State Gem
Texas Blue Topaz
Texas blue topaz is the official state gem, paired with the Lone Star cut as a distinct piece of Texas gemstone tradition.
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State Grass
Sideoats Grama
Sideoats grama is the official state grass, a widespread native prairie grass recognizable by the oat-like seed spikes arranged along one side of its stems.
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State Hat
Cowboy Hat
The cowboy hat is the official state hat, recognizing an item of working clothing that became inseparable from Texas ranching and western identity.
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State Horse
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is the official state horse, a breed closely associated with ranch work, racing, rodeo, and western horsemanship.
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State Insect
Monarch Butterfly
The monarch butterfly is the official state insect and a familiar Texas migrant whose seasonal movement links the state to a continent-spanning migration.
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State Mammal, Flying
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
The Mexican free-tailed bat is Texas's official flying mammal and is famous for enormous colonies found in caves and under bridges around the state.
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State Mammal, Large
Longhorn
The Texas longhorn is the official large state mammal, a breed whose hardiness and history are tied to the cattle drives and ranching economy of Texas.
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State Mammal, Small
Armadillo
The armadillo is the official small state mammal, a distinctive Texas wildlife icon recognized by the Legislature in 1995.
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State Motto
Friendship
Texas's official state motto is Friendship, a designation adopted in 1930 and often connected to the origin of the name Texas.
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State Music
Western Swing
Western swing is the official state music, a Texas-rooted blend of fiddle music, jazz, blues, country, and dance-band traditions.
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State Native Pepper
Chiltepin
Chiltepin is the official native pepper of Texas, a small wild chile with a long history in the borderlands and South Texas.
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State Native Shrub
Texas Purple Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)
Texas purple sage is the official native shrub, valued for drought tolerance and bursts of purple flowers after summer rains.
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State Nickname
The Lone Star State
The Lone Star State is Texas's official nickname, formally recognized in 2015 after generations of use as shorthand for Texas independence and identity.
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State Pepper
Jalapeño
The jalapeño is the official state pepper, reflecting the pepper's central place in Texas cooking and food culture.
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State Pie
Pecan Pie
Pecan pie is the official state pie, pairing a classic Texas dessert with the pecan, which is also the state's official tree.
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State Plant
Prickly Pear Cactus
The prickly pear cactus is the official state plant and a familiar native presence from South Texas brush country to the Hill Country and West Texas.
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State Reptile
Texas Horned Lizard
The Texas horned lizard is the official state reptile, a once-common native often called a horned frog and closely associated with Texas landscapes.
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State Saltwater Fish
Red Drum
Red drum is the official state saltwater fish and one of the signature game fish of the Texas Gulf Coast.
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State Sea Turtle
Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
Kemp's ridley is the official state sea turtle and a Gulf species with an especially important conservation connection to the Texas coast.
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State Shell
Lightning Whelk
The lightning whelk is the official state shell, a distinctive left-opening Gulf Coast shell frequently found along Texas beaches.
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State Snack
Tortilla Chips and Salsa
Tortilla chips and salsa are the official state snack, recognizing a pairing that is deeply embedded in Texas restaurant and home-food culture.
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State Song
Texas, Our Texas
Texas, Our Texas is the official state song, adopted in 1929 and used at civic, school, and ceremonial events across the state.
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State Sport
Rodeo
Rodeo is the official state sport, reflecting Texas ranching skills transformed into organized competition and major community events.
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State Stone
Petrified Palmwood
Petrified palmwood is the official state stone, preserving fossilized evidence of ancient vegetation in what is now Texas.
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State Tree
Pecan
The pecan has been the official state tree since 1919 and is both a native Texas tree and a major part of the state's agricultural and culinary identity.
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State Vehicle
Chuck Wagon
The chuck wagon is the official state vehicle, recognizing its role as the mobile kitchen and supply center of the cattle-drive era.
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Official directory
Every current designation in the source list
Search by symbol, category, year or legislative designation.
Showing 77 of 77 current designations.
1989
State Amphibian
Texas Toad
House Concurrent Resolution No. 18, 81st Legislature, Regular Session
State Aquarium
Texas State Aquarium
House Concurrent Resolution No. 40, 69th Legislature, Regular Session
State Bird
Mockingbird
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8, 40th Legislature, Regular Session
State Bison Herd
Texas State Bison Herd at Caprock Canyons State Park
House Concurrent Resolution No. 86, 82nd Legislature, Regular Session
State Bluebonnet City
Ennis
House Concurrent Resolution No. 116, 75th Legislature, Regular Session
State Bluebonnet Festival
Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival
House Concurrent Resolution No. 116, 75th Legislature, Regular Session
State Bluebonnet Trail
Ennis Bluebonnet Trail
House Concurrent Resolution No. 116, 75th Legislature, Regular Session
State Book
Texas Almanac
House Concurrent Resolution No. 107, 89th Legislature, Regular Session
State Bread
Pan de Campo
House Concurrent Resolution No. 98, 79th Legislature, Regular Session
State Cobbler
Peach Cobbler
House Concurrent Resolution No. 102, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session
State Cooking Implement
Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 9, 79th Legislature, Regular Session
State Crustacean
Texas Gulf Shrimp
House Concurrent Resolution No. 122, 84th Legislature, Regular Session
State Dinosaur
Paluxysaurus jonesi
House Concurrent Resolution No. 16, 81st Legislature, Regular Session
State Dish
Chili
House Concurrent Resolution No. 18, 65th Legislature, Regular Session
State Dog Breed
Blue Lacy
House Concurrent Resolution No. 108, 79th Legislature, Regular Session
State Domino Game
42
House Concurrent Resolution No. 84, 82nd Legislature, Regular Session
State Epic Poem
The Legend of Old Stone Ranch
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8, 61st Legislature, 1st Called Session
State Fiber and Fabric
Cotton
House Concurrent Resolution No. 228, 75th Legislature, Regular Session
State Fish
Guadalupe Bass
House Concurrent Resolution No. 61, 71st Legislature, Regular Session
1971
House Concurrent Resolution No. 44, 62nd Legislature, Regular Session
State Flower Song
Bluebonnets
House Concurrent Resolution No. 24, 43rd Legislature, Regular Session
State Folk Dance
Square Dance
House Concurrent Resolution No. 153, 72nd Legislature, Regular Session
State Footwear
Cowboy Boot
House Concurrent Resolution No. 151, 80th Legislature, Regular Session
State Fruit
Texas Red Grapefruit
House Concurrent Resolution No. 75, 73rd Legislature, Regular Session
State Botanical Garden
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
House Bill No. 394, 85th Legislature, Regular Session
State Gem
Texas Blue Topaz
House Concurrent Resolution No. 12, 61st Legislature, Regular Session
State Gemstone Cut
Lone Star Cut
House Concurrent Resolution No. 97, 65th Legislature, Regular Session
State Grass
Sideoats Grama
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 31, 62nd Legislature, Regular Session
State Gun
Cannon
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 22, 89th Legislature, Regular Session
State Handgun
1847 Colt Walker Pistol
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 20, 87th Legislature, Regular Session
State Hashtag
#Texas
House Concurrent Resolution No. 105, 84th Legislature, Regular Session
State Hashtag of Texas Tourism
#TexasToDo
House Concurrent Resolution No. 106, 84th Legislature, Regular Session
State Hashtag of the Texas Legislature
#txlege
House Concurrent Resolution No. 104, 84th Legislature, Regular Session
State Hat
Cowboy Hat
House Concurrent Resolution No. 35, 84th Legislature, Regular Session
State Health Nut
Pecan
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 2, 77th Legislature, Regular Session
State Horse
American Quarter Horse
House Concurrent Resolution No. 53, 81st Legislature, Regular Session
State Insect
Monarch Butterfly
House Concurrent Resolution No. 94, 74th Legislature, Regular Session
State Knife
Bowie Knife
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 7, 87th Legislature, Regular Session
State Longhorn Herd
Foundation Herd of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 79, 61st Legislature, Regular Session
State Mammal, Flying
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 95, 74th Legislature, Regular Session
State Mammal, Large
Longhorn
House Concurrent Resolution No. 178, 74th Legislature, Regular Session
State Mammal, Small
Armadillo
House Concurrent Resolution No. 178, 74th Legislature, Regular Session
State Maritime Museum
Texas Maritime Museum
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 57, 70th Legislature, Regular Session
State Motto
Friendship
House Concurrent Resolution No. 22, 41st Legislature, 4th Called Session
State Mushroom
Texas Star Mushroom
House Concurrent Resolution No. 61, 87th Legislature, Regular Session
State Music
Western Swing
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 35, 82nd Legislature, Regular Session
State Musical Instrument
Guitar
House Concurrent Resolution No. 23, 75th Legislature, Regular Session
State Native Pepper
Chiltepin
House Concurrent Resolution No. 82, 75th Legislature, Regular Session
State Native Shrub
Texas Purple Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)
House Concurrent Resolution No. 71, 79th Legislature, Regular Session
State Nickname
The Lone Star State
House Concurrent Resolution No. 77, 84th Legislature, Regular Session
State Pepper
Jalapeño
House Concurrent Resolution No. 105, 74th Legislature, Regular Session
State Pie
Pecan Pie
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 12, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session
State Plant
Prickly Pear Cactus
House Concurrent Resolution No. 44, 74th Legislature, Regular Session
State Plays
The Lone Star; Texas; Beyond the Sundown; Fandangle
Chapter 310 (Senate Bill No. 93), 66th Legislature, Regular Session
State Pollinator
Western Honey Bee
House Concurrent Resolution No. 65, 84th Legislature, Regular Session
State Precious Metal
Silver
House Concurrent Resolution No. 102, 80th Legislature, Regular Session
State Railroad
Texas State Railroad
House Concurrent Resolution No. 34, 78th Legislature, Regular Session
State Reptile
Texas Horned Lizard
House Concurrent Resolution No. 141, 73rd Legislature, Regular Session
State Rodeo Drill Team
Ghostriders
House Concurrent Resolution No. 136, 80th Legislature, Regular Session
State Saltwater Fish
Red Drum
House Concurrent Resolution No. 133, 82nd Legislature, Regular Session
State Sea Turtle
Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
House Concurrent Resolution No. 31, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session
State Shell
Lightning Whelk
House Concurrent Resolution No. 75, 70th Legislature, Regular Session
State Ship
U.S.S. Texas
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 101, 74th Legislature, Regular Session
State Shrub
Crape Myrtle
House Concurrent Resolution No. 14, 75th Legislature, Regular Session
State Snack
Tortilla Chips and Salsa
House Concurrent Resolution No. 16, 78th Legislature, Regular Session
State Song
Texas, Our Texas
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 6, 41st Legislature, First Called Session
State Sport
Rodeo
House Concurrent Resolution No. 21, 75th Legislature, Regular Session
State Squash
Pumpkin
House Concurrent Resolution No. 87, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session
State Stone
Petrified Palmwood
House Concurrent Resolution No. 12, 61st Legislature, Regular Session
State Tall Ship
Elissa
House Concurrent Resolution No. 117, 79th Legislature, Regular Session
State Tartan
Texas Bluebonnet
House Concurrent Resolution No. 242, 71st Legislature, Regular Session
State 10K
Texas Round-up 10K
House Concurrent Resolution No. 148, 79th Legislature, Regular Session
State Tree
Pecan
Chapter 97 (Senate Bill No. 317), 36th Legislature, Regular Session
State Vegetable
Sweet Onion
House Concurrent Resolution No. 148, 75th Legislature, Regular Session
State Vehicle
Chuck Wagon
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8, 79th Legislature, Regular Session
State Waterlily
Nymphaea Texas Dawn
House Concurrent Resolution No. 24, 82nd Legislature, Regular Session
Historical designation
Sopaipilla and Strudel were designated as state pastries in 2003, but that designation was explicitly limited through January 31, 2005. TexasDefined keeps it separate so an expired designation is not presented as current.
How this works
What makes a Texas symbol official?
These aren't crowdsourced nicknames. The directory is based on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's legislatively designated state-symbol list. TSLAC is charged by state law with preparing and making available a complete list of state symbols and place designations.
TexasDefined records the category, official symbol, legislative citation and year from that source. We use dedicated profile pages only where we can add useful context without inventing facts or padding the site with repetitive thin content.