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John Thurston
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(501) 682-5080 • www.sos.arkansas.gov
A Book of Symbols & Activities
about the Natural State
Published by Secretary of State John Thurston
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• Fax nsas.gov •
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e-mail
Hey kids!
I’m the Arkansas Traveler. I love traveling
around the state to see its beauty and
learn about its rich history. Follow me
through this book and discover some of the
things that make Arkansas so special!
The Arkansas Creed
I believe in Arkansas
as a Land of Opportunity and Promise.
I believe in the rich heritage
of Arkansas and I honor the men
and women who created this heritage.
I believe in the youth of Arkansas
who will build our future.
I am proud of my state,
I will uphold its constitution,
obey its laws, and
work for the good
of all its citizens.
The Arkansas State Flag
ARKANSAS
ProccDmDtiok
The Story of the
Arkansas Flag
This is to certify that
Can you imagine Arkansas’s flag with a big boat
pictured on it? What about a dancing bear?
Those were two of the ideas suggested during
the search for the state’s first official flag.
has completed a study
of the Great State of
ArkDnsDs
Before 1913, Arkansas did not have a state flag. The Pine Bluff Chapter of
the Daughters of the American Revolution decided to hold a contest for
ideas. There were 65 designs entered. Some were drawn with crayon, and
some were pieced together with silk.
and promises to continue
to learn more about his/her state.
The winning design came from Miss Willie Hocker of Wabbaseka. She
explained the meaning for all the symbols on her flag:
b) Arkansas was the third state
created from the Louisiana
Purchase (1803)
c) Two stars below “Arkansas”
represent Arkansas and
Michigan, “twin states” that
became part of the United
States near the same time
(Arkansas on June 15, 1836,
and Michigan on January 26,
1837)
John Thurston, Arkansas Secretary of State
Teacher or Parent Signature
Date
Secretary of State
Provided by
Virginia Belcher Brock
Author
Pledge
to the
Arkansas Flag
In 1923, the legislature added a fourth blue star to indicate the state had
been a member of the Confederate States of America from 1861 to 1865.
Its placement was moved in 1924 to make the design balanced once
again.
John Thurston
Tear here to detach bookmark
The state’s name was added on a suggestion by the selection committee.
On February 26, 1913, the state legislature approved the design as the
state’s official flag.
“I Salute the
Arkansas Flag
with its
Diamond and Stars.
We Pledge Our Loyalty
to Thee.”
• Red, white and blue — the colors
of the U.S. flag
• 25 stars — Arkansas was the 25th
state admitted to the Union
• Diamond — Arkansas is the
nation’s only diamond-producing
state
• The center stars —
a) Three nations have ruled
Arkansas: Spain, France and
the United States
Color the
Arkansas Flag
1
3
1
2
3
2
2
3
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
3
1
Follow this
guide to color
your flag...
1. RED
2. BLUE
3. WHITE
3
1
How did Arkansas
get its name?
The word Arkansas first came from the local Native American tribes.
They were known as the “people who live downstream.” French and
Spanish explorers called them Quapaw and Arkansaw.
4
D
Diamond
The State Gem
The Arkansas State
Gem is the diamond.
The Crater of Diamonds
State Park in Murfreesboro
is the only place in the world
where anyone can dig for diamonds
— and KEEP them!
More than 75,000 diamonds have been found
in the diamond field. Over 19,000 of those have been
found since it became Crater of Diamonds State Park!*
* Source: Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, www.arkansas.com/things-to-do/diamond-hunting/
5
Quartz
Q
The State Mineral
Quartz is mined in the Ouachita
Mountains. The crystals are sometimes
called “Arkansas Diamonds,” but
they really aren’t diamonds. Quartz is
usually clear or white, but can also be
pink, yellow or even purple.
6
B
Bauxite
The State Rock
Bauxite is an important part of making aluminum,
which is the metal used for soft drink cans. Saline County
has the largest bauxite deposits in the United States.
Colors in the rock are white, grey, yellow and red.
7
Pine
The State Tree
P
Southern yellow and loblolly
pine trees are common around
Arkansas. They can grow more than
100 feet tall. Pine trees are used
to make paper, lumber and many
other products.
How many of your classmates
would it take to reach
100 feet high?
8
A
Apple Blossom
The State Flower
Apple blossoms grow on trees. They are
pink and white with green leaves. At one
time, apples were a major crop in the state.
Today, the town of Lincoln in Washington
County still hosts the annual Arkansas
Apple Festival each fall.
9
Mockingbird
The State Bird
The mockingbird can imitate the sounds of many other
birds — frogs and insects, too! Mockingbirds
grow about 10 inches long. Their feathers
are shades of gray with white patches.
M
10
D
Diana Fritillary
The State Butterfly
The Diana Fritillary butterfly is large and very colorful.
Males are dark brown with orange markings. The females
are larger and have bright blue markings with white
spots. They live in moist mountain areas,
especially around Mount Magazine.
Mount Magazine is Arkansas’s tallest point.
Its peak is 2,753 feet high!
11
Honeybee
The State Insect
Honeybees are very helpful
for farmers. They fly from flower
to flower to collect pollen.
The pollen helps plants make
the fruit and seeds that farmers
sell. Bees also make honey.
H
12
Milk
The State Beverage
M
Dairy farming is an important
part of Arkansas agriculture.
Milk is a good source of
calcium and Vitamin D,
which helps your teeth
and bones grow strong.
13
White-Tail Deer
W
The State Mammal
When deer are
scared, they raise
their tail to show
the white fur
underneath as they
run away.
White-tailed deer are the most
popular game animal in Arkansas.
Young deer have red fur with white
spots that help them hide in tall
grass. Their fur turns brownish-gray
by their first birthday.
14
South Arkansas Vine Ripe
P
Pink Tomato
The State Fruit & Vegetable
The tomato is officially a
fruit, but is usually used as
a vegetable. Bradley County
in southern Arkansas
celebrates the tomato
with the annual
Pink Tomato Festival.
15
Pecan
P
The State Nut
Pecan trees produce dark
brown nuts that grow
1-2 inches long. The nuts
are used in many southern
recipes. Arkansas’s pecan
groves produce around
1 million pounds
of nuts each year.
Pecan pie is my
favorite dessert!
What’s yours?
16
Cynthiana
C
The State Grape
Cynthiana grapes are native to Arkansas.
They are grown for wine-making by vineyards across
the Ozarks. The state is one of the nation’s
top producers of this type of grape.
17
Rice The State Grain
Stuttgart Soil Series
RS
The State Soil
Rice is an important food for
people around the world.
It is the leading crop for
Arkansas farms. Almost half
of all American rice is grown
in our state, mostly in the
eastern delta.
The Stuttgart soil series is
found in much of Arkansas’s
most productive rice country,
covering over 200,000
acres. Act 890 of the
Arkansas General
Assembly of 1997
named the Stuttgart
soil series our
official state soil.
18
Fiddle
F
The State Instrument
Also called a violin, the
fiddle is one of the main
instruments used in
American folk music. Long
before mp3 players and
radios, a fiddle tune might
have been the only music
in a pioneer home.
Can you guess the
fiddle tune that
made me famous?
Need a hint? It’s the state historic song!
19
S
Square Dance
The State American Folk Dance
In a square dance, four
couples stand facing
each other and perform a
variety of steps together.
Dancers follow the
directions of a “caller,”
the person who calls out
steps during the song.
20
Dutch Oven
D
The State Historic Cooking Vessel
The Dutch oven is a deep, heavy pot with
legs, a lid and a handle. Pioneers set the
pot over a campfire and placed hot coals
on the lid to cook their meals. They could
make foods like soup, biscuits and
even cake in pots like
this. Today, many
campers still use
Dutch ovens.
21
Arkansarus Friday
A
The State Dinosaur
In August 1972, Joe B. Friday
discovered the remains of the
right hind foot of a dinosaur
on his land in Lockesburg
(Sevier County). The dinosaur
was given the informal name
“Arkansaurus fridayi” in 1973.
They are the only dinosaur
bones known to have been
found in Arkansas. In 2017, the
Arkansas Legislative Assembly
designated Arkansaurus fridayi
the official State Dinosaur.
22
Map It!
Arkansas is made up of 75 local governments
called counties. Where do you live?
1. Color your count y on the map above.
2. Draw a star where the state capital is located.
3. Connect the dots above the map to spell your state.
23
Songs of Arkansas#
sas
Arkan
Me)
n
i
p
e
n De olyfield
ou Ru
H
(Y
yland
by Wa
ong
state s
s,
ountain
M
k
r
a
y.
the Oz
ing in sun in the sk urning
n
r
o
m
er
e that
’s still b
Octob
zing lik and the fire
la
b
a
ere
Hills
love th
ill die.
I fell in that never w
e
A flam
I do
t when
u
.
b
US
,
R
r
O
e
H
C
nd
ays be
.
ay wa
m you w you’ll alw
m
o
r
I
f
,
r
h
a
O
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d I kno
ever b
od an
e.
lo
I will n
b
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ep in m
in m
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’r
n
u
u
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Y
ee,
lta lev l
as, you
s
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n
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a
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A
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ancing nd whippoo ing
d
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li
Moon d of frogs a ne July even
an
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To
art the an tell
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I lost m till there, I c
s
And it’s
ing,
RUS
a smil
T CHO
m
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M
REPEA
mber
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e
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pr
o
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D
lo
s I kee
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on a
ie
o
r
g
n
o
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in
m
a
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e
d.
M
ds sa
s the m familiar frien
s
le
Mallar
b
God
old
Like an
US
Oh, Arka
rough
CHOR
ling th
b
EPEAT
R
n
m
s
a
a
r
s
by Terri R
river
ose/Gary
ere’s a
s,
er
Klaff
It’s the sp
And th s and valley he makes h
irit of the
s
ld
s
ie
a
mountain
the f
It’s the sp
ady
s and th
irit
and ste
th
o
e spirit o
o
e
It’s the sp of the Capitol d
m
S
f the Delt
ome.
se nam
uth,
irit
a,
way so people who
It’s the sp of the river and
the spirit
irit
ke the e carries.
ud.
of the la
It’s the sp that’s in each a
A lot li
es pro
kes,
sh
nd every
o
irit of the
g
e
home.
pe
It’s the sp
and sh
irit of tom ople and the sp
strong
s
e
ir
o
o
it
rr
g
o
ow and
f the lan
CHORUS
She
today.
d,
RUS
Oh Arka
T CHO
nsas, oh
REPEA
Arkansas
It’s the sp
, Arkansa
irit of frie
s U.S.A.
ndship, it
It’s the R
’s the sp
azorbac
ir
k
it of hop
s every g
Oh Arka
e.
ame the
nsas, oh
y play.
Arkansas
, Arkansa
It’s the sp
s U.S.A.
irit
It’s the sp of the forest, it’s
the spirit
irit
of th
It’s the sp of the country th
irit of pri
a
t we love e eagle.
de that w
It’s the sp
.
e all feel
irit
deep ins
It’s the sp that shines from
ide,
irit
above.
It’s the sp of our fathers, it
’s
irit of the
music th the spirit of our k
at we pla
ids,
Oh Arka
y.
nsas, oh
A
rk
Oh Arka
ansas, A
nsas, oh
Arkansas rkansas U.S.A.
Oh Arka
,A
nsas, oh
Arkansas rkansas U.S.A.
, Arkansa
s U.S.A.
sta
t
e
s
o
n
g
24
te Song Sel
Lyrics by the Arkansas Sta
t 1850
d “Sandy” Faulkner, abou
for
nd
Music by Colonel Sa
long ago,
On a lonely road quite
and a bow;
A trav’ler trod with fiddle
,
country rich and grand
While rambling thru the
the land.
of
ty
au
be
the
d
magic an
He quickly sensed the
CHORUS
’ll sing a song,
For the wonder state we
d and long.
And lift our voices lou
’ll shout hurrah!
For the wonder state we
sas.
nities we find in Arkan
And praise the opportu
d, the trav’lers gay,
Many years have passe
the highway;
Repeat the tune along
gs the glad refrain
And every voice that sin
untains to the fields
Re-echoes from the mo
of growing grain.
REPEAT CHORUS
* All musical arrangements available for download at www.soskids.arkansas.gov
25
state historic song
eler
The Arkansas Trectav
ion Committee, 1947
offi
c
i
a
l
s
t
a
t
e
a
n
t
h
e
m
I am
th
A
Of th inking to
e ho
by Ev rkansa
me o night of t
Whe
s
a Wa
h
re I r
f
re Ba
oam my child e Southl
ed th
and,
rnett
hood
an
ro
By th
d
e mi d the me ugh the w ays,
‘Tis a
ll
a
Whe
oods
l
re th and the dows
Rich and full o
e ros
broo
And
in pe
f joy
es ar
k tha
the s
ar
Full o
a
e
tp
w
Whe
f hop ls and in nd of sun
re th eet mag in bloom lays;
Who
e, fai
diam
shine
e jas
nolia
And
m
t
mi
,t
th
There ay pass h and lov onds rare ,
There e fields a ne is wh oo,
e
‘n
,
ite
r
And the rice f eath he for the s
Who a welcom e violet b
the c
ields
r por
t
r
have
lue,
e aw
otton
tals f anger,
are f
There
aits a
wand
air;
u
,
CHO
c
l
t
l
h
o
,
l
e
r
e
lh
RU
n
red a
f
Bloo
m in ruits of th and hay
Arka S
far fr er childre
,
n
om h
w
e
‘Tis th
n
ome
‘Tis th sas, Arka
e lan inter mon field,
nsas
A
e pla
d
t
n
h
t
d to
s
, ‘tis a
Arka
ce I c
her l hat I love and Ma
n
n
a
et us
y
, first
REPE
From sas, Arka ll “home ame dea
AT C
all gi
of al ,
nsas
HOR
,
r
thy s
,
s
l
v
w
,
e
dear
US
,I
ee
chee
helte
,
r.
r no salute th t home”;
ee
more
I’ll ro ,
am.
Thi s
i
f av s MY
or i t
e!
Make a Match
Match the symbol and its name
Quartz
Pine Tree
Rice
Dutch Oven
Pink Tomato
26
Word Search
Circle the words in the puzzle
F
I
D
D
L
E
N
D
H
E
C
L
M
I
L
K
F
M
O
I
E
C
Q
U
A
R
T
Z
T
R
E
U
D
T
O
M
A
T
O
D
I
E
P
N
E
I
O
P
I
N
E
C
K
B
M
H
O
N
E
Y
B
E
E
A
O
O
E
T
D
C
M
D
R
E
N
E
T
D
N
Y
A
B
Z
P
O
N
N
F
Y
E
R
N
I
P
E
T
E
M
I
I
O
O
O
Q
B
E
O
E
A
O
L
R
E
M
E
E
D
P
N
C
A
DEER
DIAMOND
FIDDLE
HONEYBEE
MILK
PECAN
PINE
QUARTZ
RICE
TOMATO
27
Find the Diamond
How many diamonds can you find?
I found __________ diamonds.
28
A-Maze-ing Arkansas
Help the Arkansas Traveler find his fiddle
Start
Finish
29
The Seal’s the Deal
Use the state symbols you have learned
to design your own State Seal
The Arkansas
State Seal
My
State Seal
30
ProccDmDtiok
The Story of the
Arkansas Flag
This is to certify that
Can you imagine Arkansas’s flag with a big boat
pictured on it? What about a dancing bear?
Those were two of the ideas suggested during
the search for the state’s first official flag.
has completed a study
of the Great State of
ArkDnsDs
Before 1913, Arkansas did not have a state flag. The Pine Bluff Chapter of
the Daughters of the American Revolution decided to hold a contest for
ideas. There were 65 designs entered. Some were drawn with crayon, and
some were pieced together with silk.
and promises to continue
to learn more about his/her state.
The winning design came from Miss Willie Hocker of Wabbaseka. She
explained the meaning for all the symbols on her flag:
b) Arkansas was the third state
created from the Louisiana
Purchase (1803)
c) Two stars below “Arkansas”
represent Arkansas and
Michigan, “twin states” that
became part of the United
States near the same time
(Arkansas on June 15, 1836,
and Michigan on January 26,
1837)
John Thurston, Arkansas Secretary of State
Teacher or Parent Signature
Date
Secretary of State
Provided by
Virginia Belcher Brock
Author
Pledge
to the
Arkansas Flag
In 1923, the legislature added a fourth blue star to indicate the state had
been a member of the Confederate States of America from 1861 to 1865.
Its placement was moved in 1924 to make the design balanced once
again.
John Thurston
Tear here to detach bookmark
The state’s name was added on a suggestion by the selection committee.
On February 26, 1913, the state legislature approved the design as the
state’s official flag.
“I Salute the
Arkansas Flag
with its
Diamond and Stars.
We Pledge Our Loyalty
to Thee.”
• Red, white and blue — the colors
of the U.S. flag
• 25 stars — Arkansas was the 25th
state admitted to the Union
• Diamond — Arkansas is the
nation’s only diamond-producing
state
• The center stars —
a) Three nations have ruled
Arkansas: Spain, France and
the United States
The Arkansas Creed
I believe in Arkansas
as a Land of Opportunity and Promise.
I believe in the rich heritage
of Arkansas and I honor the men
and women who created this heritage.
I believe in the youth of Arkansas
who will build our future.
I am proud of my state,
I will uphold its constitution,
obey its laws, and
work for the good
of all its citizens.
is
e
m
a
n
y
M
_____
________
_______
________
_____
________
_______
________
______
_______
________
___
is
and th
is my
nsas.
Arka
n
o
k
o
bo
ounty.
_____ C
________
________
_______
________
_
________
_____
I live in
______ .
_______
________
________
_______
________
ol at ___
scho
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www.so
secretary of state
1.2019
John Thurston
Communications & Education Division
(501) 682-5080 • www.sos.arkansas.gov
A Book of Symbols & Activities
about the Natural State
Published by Secretary of State John Thurston