Vintage Wells State Nicknames Map Charms

• Alabama - Often called the Yellowhammer State because the state bird is a Yellowhammer Woodpecker.
• Arizona - Grand Canyon State - Most of the Grand Canyon is in Arizona.
• Arkansas - Land of Opportunity - In the 1940s businessmen wanted to change the state's image to one with a bright outlook for the development of business, industry, and agriculture.
• California - Growth grew quickly after gold was discovered in 1848, and there are fields of golden poppies that grow in the spring throughout the state.

• Colorado - Became a state in 1876, one hundred years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, therefore called the Centennial State.
• Connecticut - Nutmeg State - Early sailors brought back nutmeg from the state to their homelands, along with wooden nutmeg seeds carved by Native Americans.
• Delaware - Thomas Jefferson called Delaware the Diamond State because he thought it was a jewel on the eastern United States.
• Florida - Known as the sunshine state because it has the longest coastline of any state in the U.S.
• Georgia - Peaches are one of Georgia's most delicious agricultural products, hence it's known as the Peach State.

I have a quiz on state mottos or slogans on my Charmchatter blog.  I suggest you finish looking at the pictures on this page, and then head on over and see how many you remember.

Vintage Wells State Map Charms – How Many Slogans Do You Know?

**** Disclaimer**** - These may not be the current or official state slogans - they are the ones the Wells Top Hat Company used for the state map charms.

• Idaho - Nicknamed the Gem State, because the state congress thought Idaho meant "Gem of the Mountains" in native Shoshone.  Turns out they were mistaken but the nickname stuck.
• Illinois - The third week in September is Prairie Week in Illinois, meant to honor the native Illinois prairies.
• Indiana - Named after a poem written by John Finley "The Hoosier's Nest".
• Iowa - The Hawkeye State is named as a tribute to chief Black Hawk, leader of the Sauk Indians.
• Kansas - Named the Sunflower State because the sunflower is the state flower of Kansas.

• Kentucky - Called the Bluegrass State, after a type of pasture grass, grows all over the state.
• Louisiana - Named after the brown pelican, the state bird.
• Maine - Pine Tree State - The Eastern White Pine is the state tree, and a pine tree is on the state seal and flag.
• Maryland - General George Washington called Maryland the Old Line State because of the Maryland Line military that served in the Revolutionary War.
• Massachusetts - Early settlers called Massachusetts the Bay State because of the shoreline bays.

• Michigan - In the 1800s Michigan and Ohio settlers fought over a strip of land.  The Ohio residents thought the people were as vicious as a wolverine.
• Minnesota - Named the Gopher State after the striped gopher which is common in the state.
• Mississippi - The Magnolia tree is the state tree and the bloom is the state flower, hence Mississippi is called the Magnolia State.
• Missouri - A state representative in the legislature gave Missouri the nickname the Show Me State because of the people's stubbornness and common sense.
• Montana - Called the Treasure State because of the mining industry.

• New Hampshire -  Named the Granite State after the granite mines in the state, also it's the official state rock.
• New Jersey - The Garden State got it's name because it's like a barrel with a vast amount of good things to eat inside.

• New York - George Washington called New York "the Seat of the Empire" and the name stuck.
• North Carolina - Called the tar heel state because of the tar, pitch, rosin and turpentine exported from the state's pine forests.
• North Dakota - Named the Flickertail state after the squirrels that flick or jerk their tails before they run away.
• Ohio - Ohio is nicknamed the Buckeye State because of the buckeye trees once covered the countryside.
• Oklahoma - Early settlers of the Sooner State moved to there before the land was legally available, called sooners because they arrived too soon.

• Pennsylvania - At a Jefferson political rally he referred to Pennsylvania as "the keystone in the federal union," and it became the Keystone State.
• South Carolina - SC is the Palmetto state because the Sabal Palm is the official state tree.

Tennessee - Was given the nickname the Volunteer State during the war of 1812, when volunteer soldiers helped win the Battle of New Orleans.

Texas - Called the Lone Star State because of the star on the 1836 flag of the Republic of Texas.

Vermont - French explorer Samuel de Champlain called this state Verd Mont, meaning green mountain.

Virginia - Called the Cavalier State, this nickname is derived from the supporters of King Charles (Cavaliers) who came to Virginia during the English Civil War.

I've been collecting vintage charm bracelets for about 10 years and Charms and Charm Bracelets, The Complete Guide, written by Joanne Schwartz is by far the best research book on the market. I belong to a group of collectors and this book was written by one of the members.  Additionally most of the photographs are of a member's extensive collection.  There are dozens of drool-worthy color pictures and the commentary guides the reader through charm collecting for over a hundred years.  The book also has history of manufacturers and examples of American vs European charms.

Washington - Nicknamed the Evergreen State after the abundant evergreen forests.

West Virginia - West Virginia is the Mountain State because of the Appalachian mountains that run through it.

Wisconsin - Called the Badger State after the official state animal.

Wyoming - The Equality State is where women were first allowed to vote, hold public office, and serve on juries.