Ranking N.C.'s 11 potential new state symbols
Not all state symbols are created equal. Here’s what actually deserves the honor
I get why legislators roll their eyes at state symbols. Yes, they can be hokey. Yes, they can feel like a waste of time. And yes, every year it seems like another bill gets filed to name the official state fungus or whatever.
But I’ve got a real soft spot for them.
State symbols are small things, but when done well, they can celebrate our great state and teach something about North Carolina that’s worth remembering. The truth is, some are a lot better than others.
Right now, there are 11 bills pending in the General Assembly to adopt new state symbols. I’d be surprised if any of them actually pass — there’s quite some burnout among lawmakers on this front, and that’s not unwarranted.
Still, it’s worth taking a look at them. Not just because it’s fun (it is), but because it forces us to ask a bigger question: What actually makes a good state symbol?
What makes a good state symbol?
Not every beloved food, animal, or festival needs to be codified in law. Here’s the lens we should use when evaluating whether something is truly worthy of becoming a state symbol.
1. Is it distinctively North Carolina?
If any other state could make the same claim, it’s not good enough. This is where most existing symbols fall flat — the cardinal, the turtle, the honeybee, milk. They’re fine, but they’re generic. A great state symbol reflects something that exists here and only here. The Plott hound fits the bill. So does the Venus flytrap.
2. Does it carry real cultural or historical weight?
Symbols should point to the people, places, and traditions that shaped this state. The sweet potato represents not just agriculture, but eastern North Carolina’s economic backbone. A symbol that tells a story will always matter more than one that just fills space.
3. Is it recognizable to actual North Carolinians?
This isn’t about insider trivia. A good state symbol should resonate with everyday people — not just historians or niche interest groups. If you have to explain what it is, or why it matters, it’s probably not the right fit. The best symbols feel instantly familiar, even if they spark curiosity.
4. Are there multiple real contenders for the title?
A legitimate state symbol should emerge from a field of worthy options. If there’s only one festival, one event, or one variation even being considered, maybe the category doesn’t deserve recognition at all. “Official state fried apple pie festival” sounds fun — but if it’s the only one, what’s the point of naming it?
Ranking this year’s 11 state symbol bills
Symbol-worthy
1) Official State Cookie: Moravian Cookie
This one’s a no-brainer. Moravian cookies are iconic to Winston-Salem, rooted in the state’s unique Moravian history, and baked into North Carolina’s holiday culture. They’re instantly recognizable, have a real economic impact, and actually taste good. You can’t walk through Old Salem in December without smelling molasses and spice.
If every state had to pick a cookie, this one could only be ours. The Moravian cookie hits every mark and should absolutely be a state symbol.
2) Official State TV Show: The Andy Griffith Show
You already know why this matters. It’s not just about Mount Airy — it’s about a vision of North Carolina that became a national export. A little nostalgic? Sure. But still entirely relevant. This one belongs on the list.
3) Official Hip-Hop Song: “Raise Up” by Petey Pablo
This is the most unconventional entry on the list, and definitely the most fun. “Raise Up” is a statewide anthem — a shoutout to HBCUs, the east, and the early 2000s surge of North Carolina hip-hop. Let’s do it.
Meh. Maybe.
4) Official State Star: Moravian Star
Another nod to the Moravian legacy, but this one’s more niche. It’s visually striking and culturally rich, especially around Christmas in the Triad. But unlike the cookie, it doesn’t have broad awareness statewide. Also, the concept of a “state star” is a little too weird for me. This needs to be workshopped some more.
5) Official State Saltwater Reptile: Loggerhead Sea Turtle
They nest on our beaches. They’re protected. They’re visible. But they’re not ours. Loggerheads are found across the Atlantic coast, and we already have a reptile. This one feels more like a classroom project than a genuine state symbol push.
Scrap it
6) Official State Raptor: Osprey
The osprey’s cool — it dives like a missile and lives across much of the state. But it’s not uniquely North Carolinian, and there’s been no statewide conversation about why we need an official raptor in the first place. Feels like filler.
7) Official State Veterans Museum: Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas
This one’s sincere, but it’s more of a designation than a symbol. The museum does great work in Brevard, but it’s not well known across the state. If anything, this would be better handled with funding support or promotion, not a symbolic title.
8) Official State Marine Mammal: Bottlenose Dolphin
Everyone loves dolphins. That’s the problem. They’re not special to North Carolina. If we’re going to designate something from the coast, it needs to be more rooted in place than this.
9) Official Fried Apple Pie Festival: Sparta Fried Apple Pie Festival
No disrespect to fried apple pie — or to Sparta, which throws a great small-town event. But I’m not aware of any other fried apple pie festivals in the state. That makes it a fantastic local tradition, not a state symbol.
10) Official Rice Festival: North Carolina Rice Festival
The rice festival in Winnabow does real work to honor Gullah Geechee culture and coastal history — and that matters. But again, it’s a great event, just not the best fit for official status.
11) Official State Balloon Rally: Carolina BalloonFest
Statesville’s balloon rally is colorful, long-running, and draws a serious crowd every October. But for a third time, there’s not a lot of competition in this category.
Quick hits
I wrote more about tariffs this week in The Charlotte Observer. The quick summary is this — the factories of the past aren’t coming back, but some new ones might, and we’ve got work to do. Read it here: Tariffs won’t bring back old manufacturing jobs. North Carolina can still benefit
Congratulations to House Speaker Destin Hall on the birth of his first child, a son named Henry. Babies are an incredible blessing. From Psalm 127: “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.”
At a premium
Important reads
In unprecedented move, DNC official to spend big to take down fellow Democrats (Politico)
North Carolina sports betting tax increase officially proposed (CBS Sports)
White House of Worship: Christian Prayer Rings Out Under Trump (New York Times gift link)
Top spenders on social media this week
As a reminder, One Nation is a 501(c)4 that supports Republicans in the U.S. Senate. They’re currently supporting U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis and opposing Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff.
Question of the week
The poll for this week’s question is above and related to state symbols. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the results of last week’s question on which N.C. bill has the best acronym were clear-cut.
DAVE Act: 54%
C.O.O.P.E.R. Accountability Act: 27%
Ric Flair Act: 8%
PAVE Act: 8%
REINS Act: 4%