This is a list of symbols of the U.S. state of Maryland. The majority of the items in the list are officially recognized symbols created by an act of the Maryland General Assembly

Maryland General Assembly

The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...

 and signed into law by the governor

Governor of Maryland

The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...

. However, two of the more famous symbols of Maryland, the state motto and the state nicknames, were never made official by the state government. While the state seal derives from the colonial heritage of the state, the majority of official state symbols were designated in the last few decades.

Insignia

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Source
Flag Flags of the U.S. states The flags of the U.S. states exhibit a wide variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as widely different styles and design principles. Modern state flags date from the 1890s when states wanted to have distinctive symbols at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago...	The Flag of Maryland Flag of Maryland The flag of the state of Maryland consists of the heraldic banner of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore. It is the only state flag in the United States to be based on English heraldry. The flag of the state of Maryland consists of the heraldic banner of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore. It is...	Arms Coat of arms A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...  of the Calvert and Crossland families Baron Baltimore Baron Baltimore, of Baltimore Manor in County Longford, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1625 for George Calvert and became extinct on the death of the sixth Baron in 1771. The title was held by several members of the Calvert family who were proprietors of the palatinates... . While 1904 was the official date of adoption, the flag has colonial roots. Calvert was the surname of the Lords Baltimore, proprietors of the Maryland colony, and Crossland was the maiden name of the mother of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore.	1904
Motto	Fatti maschii, parole femine Literally: manly deeds, womanly words Officially: strong deeds, gentle words	The state motto has never been formally adopted, though it was the motto of the Calvert family upon the founding of Maryland in 1634 and appears on the Great Seal of Maryland.	Traditional	—
Nicknames	The Old Line State The Free State	The Old Line State might have originated as a nickname given by George Washington George Washington George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...  during the Revolutionary War American Revolution The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...  to the Maryland line of troops. The Free State originated from an editorial in the Baltimore Sun in 1923 on how Maryland should be free by seceding from the Union rather than prohibiting alcohol.	Traditional	—
Seal Seals of the U.S. states The following gallery displays the official seals of the 50 states, federal district, and territories of the United States of America:-See also:* Coat of Arms of the U.S. States* Seals of Governors of the U.S. States* Flags of the U.S. states...	The Great Seal of Maryland	The obverse side shows Lord Baltimore as a knight on a charging horse. The reverse side shows the Calvert seal, a plowman, a fisherman, the state motto and a Latin Latin Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...  text that translate as "You have crowned us with the shield of your goodwill."	1969

Species

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Source
Bird	Baltimore Oriole Baltimore Oriole The Baltimore Oriole is a small icterid blackbird that averages 18 cm long and weighs 34 g. This bird received its name from the fact that the male's colors resemble those on the coat-of-arms of Lord Baltimore... Icterus galbula	The male's black and orange feathers are similar to the Calvert seal. This led to the bird receiving its name of Baltimore.	1947
Cat	Calico Cat Felis silvestris catus	The Calico has tri-color fur of orange, black and white, which is the same colors as the Calvert seal.	2001
Crustacean	Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun	The Blue Crab is found in the Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...  and is the most valuable species harvested from the bay.	1989
Dinosaur	Astrodon Astrodon johnstoni	In 1958, the first astrodon fossils were found in Maryland. The lived in what is now Maryland from 95 to 130 million years ago.	1998
Dog	Chesapeake Bay Retriever Chesapeake Bay Retriever The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a breed of dog belonging to the Retriever, Gundog, and Sporting breed groups. Members of the breed may also be referred to as a Chessie, CBR, or Chesapeake. The breed was developed in the United States Chesapeake Bay area during the 19th century... Canis lupis familiaris	Named after the Chesapeake Bay, the retriever was developed in the United States to recover waterfowl for hunters.	1964
Fish	Rockfish Striped bass The striped bass is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the state saltwater fish of New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire... Morone saxatilis	The rockfish, also called striped bass, is found in abundance in Maryland.	1965
Flower	Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Rudbeckia hirta, the Black-eyed Susan, with the other common names of: Brown-eyed Susan, Brown Betty, Brown Daisy , Gloriosa Daisy, Golden Jerusalem, Poorland Daisy, Yellow Daisy, and Yellow Ox-eye Daisy. It is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae... Rudbeckia hirta	A daisy with yellow petals and a dark purple center.	1918
Horse State horse Twelve U.S. states have designated a horse breed as the official state horse. The first state horse was designated in Vermont in 1961. The most recent state designations occurred in 2010, when North Carolina and South Carolina both declared state breeds...	Thoroughbred horse Equus caballus	The Preakness Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb... , the second leg of the Triple Crown United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...  of thoroughbred racing is held at Pimlico Race Course Pimlico Race Course Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...  in Baltimore, Maryland.	2003
Insect	Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas phaeton)	The butterfly has orange and black colorings, which is the same colors as the Calvert seal.	1973
Reptile	Diamondback Terrapin Diamondback terrapin The diamondback terrapin or simply terrapin, is a species of turtle native to the brackish coastal swamps of the eastern and southern United States. It belongs to the monotypic genus, Malaclemys... Malaclemys terrapin	The terrapin were abundant and easy to catch and became a gourmet food until over-harvesting depleted terrapin stocks. The University of Maryland University of Maryland, College Park The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C... 's nickname is the "terrapins".	1994
Tree	White Oak Quercus alba	A long-lived and one of the pre-eminent hardwoods of America. It is also the state tree of Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...  and Connecticut Connecticut Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately... . The Wye Oak Wye Oak The Wye Oak was the honorary state tree of Maryland, and the largest white oak tree in the United States. Located in the town of Wye Mills, Talbot County, Maryland, the Wye Oak was believed to be over 460 years old at the time of its destruction during a severe thunderstorm on June 6, 2002, and...  was believed to be the largest and oldest white oak at 540 years old until it fell during a thunderstorm in 2002.	1941

Geology

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Source
Fossil	Ecphora gardnerae gardnerae Ecphora gardnerae gardnerae Ecphora gardnerae is a species of fossil predatory sea snail, an extinct marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the rock snails.-Geological history:...	The shell of an extinct snail that is commonly found throughout Maryland.	1994
Gem	Patuxent River Stone Patuxent River Stone For other uses of "Riverstone", see Riverstone.The Patuxent River stone is the state gem of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is an agate, a cryptocrystalline form of quartz... Agate	A yellow and red, almost an orange hue, quartz found only in Maryland. It is named after the Patuxent River Patuxent River The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between... .	2004	—

Culture

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Source
Boat	Skipjack	Skipjacks would dredge the Chesapeake Bay for oysters.	1985
Dessert	Smith Island Cake	A cake with eight to fifteen layers and chocolate frosting between each layer. The recipe originated from Smith Island, Maryland Smith Island, Maryland Smith Island is a census-designated place in Somerset County, Maryland, United States. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Metropolitan Statistical Area.... .	2008
Drink	Milk Milk Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...		1998
Exercise Physical exercise Physical exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, as well as for the purpose of...	Walking Walking Walking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...		2008	—
Folk dance	Square dance Square dance Square dance is a folk dance with four couples arranged in a square, with one couple on each side, beginning with Couple 1 facing away from the music and going counter-clockwise until getting to Couple 4. Couples 1 and 3 are known as the head couples, while Couples 2 and 4 are the side couples...	A fold dance with eight couples arranged in a square. As of 2011, it is the official state dance for 21 states.	1994
Song	Maryland, My Maryland Maryland, My Maryland "Maryland, My Maryland" is the official state song of the U.S. state of Maryland. The song is set to the tune of "Lauriger Horatius" and the lyrics are from a nine-stanza poem written by James Ryder Randall...	Lyrics are from a nine-stanza poem written by James Ryder Randall James Ryder Randall James Ryder Randall was an American journalist and poet. He is best remembered as the author of "Maryland, My Maryland".-Biography:Randall was born on January 1, 1839 in Baltimore, Maryland....  and set to the tune of O Tannenbaum O Tannenbaum "O Tannenbaum", or, in its English version, "O Christmas Tree", is a Christmas carol of German origin.A Tannenbaum is a fir tree or Christmas tree... . Randall was a confederate sympathizer and the song supports the confederacy with lyrics such as, "Huzza! she spurns the Northern scum!".	1939
Sport (individual)	Jousting Jousting Jousting is a martial game or hastilude between two knights mounted on horses and using lances, often as part of a tournament.Jousting emerged in the High Middle Ages based on the military use of the lance by heavy cavalry. The first camels tournament was staged in 1066, but jousting itself did not...	Jousting tournaments have been held in Maryland since colonial times. The Maryland State Jousting Championship has been held annually since 1950 and is sponsored by the Maryland Jousting Tournament Association	1962
Sport (team)	Lacrosse Lacrosse Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...	Lacrosse is the oldest known sport to be played in America. Maryland is home to the Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame.	2004
Theater	Center Stage Center Stage (theater) Center Stage is the state theater of Maryland and Baltimore's largest professional producing theater. Center Stage was founded in 1963 as a regional playhouse....	Center Stage was founded in 1963 and is Maryland's largest theater company.	1978	—
Summer theater	Olney Theatre Center Olney Theatre Located just north of Washington, D.C. in Montgomery County, Maryland, the Olney Theatre Center for the Arts offers a diverse array of professional productions year-round that enrich, nurture and challenge a broad range of artists, audiences and students...	Olney Theatre was founded in 1938 and offers include the Summer Shakespeare William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"... Festival and summer training programs for High School students.	1978	—