The Maryland Manual, the venerable guidebook to all things governmental, lists 26 state symbols for the Old Line State, and more could be on the way.
Some are obvious: Of course the official crustacean is the blue crab, and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is the official dog. The Maryland flag, to be sure, flies alone. Others are more obscure. Why is jousting Maryland’s official sport, and how did walking become the official state exercise? Was the Smith Island Cake the only choice for Maryland’s state dessert?
This episode of Maryland Now explores the back stories behind some lesser-known state symbols. Because each symbol needs a law to enact it, their histories are often intertwined with Annapolis vote-trading, intensive lobbying efforts, and good old-fashioned civic education.
Topics in this episode
A Purr-fectly Executive Plan?: The story of how a group of fifth-graders from Westernport Elementary School in Washington County successfully lobbied for the calico to be designated as the official state cat.
The Jousting vs. Lacrosse Compromise: A look at the legislative maneuver that kept Maryland’s traditional state sport intact while elevating lacrosse to its own official status, a conflict that may have been the very first “Mike versus Mike” stand-off between two historical political figures.
The Smith Island Cake Crusade: How a venerable multi-layered dessert from a small island community became a staple of Maryland pride (and a lesson in the power of grass-roots lobbying).
Your Gym Class Explained: Why many of us had to learn square-dancing in gym, and the dark history of why square dancing is the official state folk dance in dozens of states, including Maryland.
Repealing History: A look at the 2021 decision to officially repeal “Maryland, My Maryland” as the state song and the ongoing search for a replacement.
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Maryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs and produced by Carper Cre8tive.
