State symbols

The Ruffed Grouse

US Brig Niagara in port

Pennsylvania state insignia and historical facts

State motto	Virtue, liberty, and independence (Adapted in 1875, and it represents the fact that Philadelphia was the site where the Declaration of Independence was signed.)
State tree	Hemlock
State bird	Ruffed grouse
State flower	Mountain Laurel
State insect	Photuris pennsylvanica (Pennsylvania Firefly)
State animal	White-tailed deer
State dog	Great Dane
State fish	Brook Trout
State fossil	the trilobite Phacops rana
State beverage	Milk
State capital	Harrisburg
Union admission rank	2nd
State song	"Pennsylvania" (formerly "Hail, Pennsylvania!" until 1990)
State dance	Polka
State toy	Slinky
State ship	United States Brig Niagara
State electric locomotive	Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 #4849 Locomotive
State steam locomotive	Pennsylvania Railroad K4s Locomotive
State beautification plant	Crown vetch
State soil	Hazleton

Nicknames

Pennsylvania has been known as the Keystone State since 1802, based in part upon its central location among the original Thirteen Colonies forming the United States, and also in part because of the number of important American documents signed in the state (such as the Declaration of Independence). It was also a keystone state economically, having both the industry common to the North (making such wares asConestoga wagons and rifles) and the agriculture common to the South (producing feed, fiber, food, and tobacco).

Another one of Pennsylvania's nicknames is the Quaker State; in colonial times, it was known officially as the Quaker Province, in recognition of Quaker William Penn's First Frame of Government constitution for Pennsylvania that guaranteed liberty of conscience. He knew of the hostility Quakers faced when they opposed religious ritual, taking oaths, violence, war and military service, and what they viewed as ostentatious frippery.

"The Coal State", "The Oil State", "The Chocolate State", and "The Steel State" were adopted when those were the state's greatest industries.

"The State of Independence" currently appears on many road signs entering the state.