Question 1/

Missouri’s nickname, "Show-Me State," is largely attributed to Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver. In an 1899 speech, he declared, "I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me." This phrase encapsulates the idea that Missourians are skeptical and require evidence before believing claims.

Arizona’s nickname pays tribute to its most famous natural landmark, the Grand Canyon, located at the state's northern end near the Utah border. The Grand Canyon, the largest canyon in the United States, stretches for 277 miles. Annually, millions of tourists visit to marvel at this natural wonder, which has been sculpted by the Colorado River over the past 6 million years.

Indiana is known as the “Hoosier State,” a nickname originating from a poem called “The Hoosier’s Nest” published in the “Indianapolis Journal” in 1833. The exact origin of the term "Hoosier" is unclear, but one theory suggests it comes from a local contractor named Hoosier who only employed men from Indiana. Another theory posits that it derives from a Native American word for corn.

Ohio is known as “the Buckeye State” due to the numerous buckeye trees scattered across its landscapes. The buckeye is also the official state tree. The term "buckeye" comes from the Native American word “hetuck,” referring to the tree’s nuts that resemble a deer’s eye, highlighting both the state’s natural flora and its cultural heritage.

New Jersey’s "Garden State" nickname is often credited to Abraham Browning, who served as the state's attorney general from 1845 to 1850. He coined the nickname during a speech at the 1876 Philadelphia world’s fair. Today, the nickname has gained additional recognition from the 2004 film "Garden State," written and directed by Zach Braff.

In March 1867, the United States purchased the vast territory of Alaska from Russia for two cents per acre, a landmass larger than California, Montana, and Texas combined. Due to its remote location and rugged wilderness, it earned the nickname “The Last Frontier.” Alaska officially became a state nearly a century later, on January 3, 1959.

In 1848, the discovery of gold near Sacramento on the American River ignited a massive gold rush, attracting over 100,000 people to California in hopes of finding fortune. This rapid influx of settlers led to California's quick admission to the Union as the 31st state in 1850. The state soon earned the nickname “Golden State,” reflecting both its history and natural wealth.

Kentucky is known as "The Bluegrass State," a nickname that refers not to music but to the abundant bluegrass that grows throughout the state. However, recent developments in the Bluegrass Region, where fields and farms once flourished, have led to its inclusion on the World Monuments Fund’s list of the 100 most endangered sites.

Michigan’s nickname, "The Mitten State," is easily understood by looking at a map of the state. Early maps of Michigan were not very accurate, and it wasn’t until the 1800s that better maps were produced. The first documented use of the nickname appeared in the 1901 "Michigan State Cyclopedia."

Hawaii’s unique geological features make rainbows a frequent sight. As air moves across the Pacific Ocean, it gathers moisture until it hits one of Hawaii’s prominent peaks, forcing the moist air upward to form rain clouds. Once the air moves past the mountains and warms up, viewers often see the sun shining through the rain, creating rainbows.

Wisconsin is renowned for its dairy production, ranking second only to California in the U.S., which is reflected in its dairy-related nicknames. While badgers are plentiful in Wisconsin, the nickname "Badger State" originated from miners who were called “badger boys” for building temporary homes by digging into rock, similar to badgers.

Tennessee is famously known as the Volunteer State, a nickname that originated during the War of 1812 when volunteer soldiers from Tennessee played a significant role in the Battle of New Orleans. The state’s reputation for volunteerism was further solidified by the valor displayed by Tennessee soldiers during the Mexican-American War.

Wyoming holds the distinction of being the first territory to grant women the right to vote in 1869 and the first state to swear in a female governor in 1924. However, a key reason for granting women the vote was Wyoming’s sparse population — without the inclusion of women voters, the state would not have met the population requirement for statehood.

South Carolina is called the "Palmetto State" in honor of its state tree, the palmetto, officially adopted in March 1939. The palmetto is also featured on the state seal and flag. The silhouette of a palmetto was added in 1861 to symbolize Colonel William Moultrie’s defense of the state's palmetto-log fort against the British fleet during the Revolutionary War.

Vermont and West Virginia are the only states with “mountain” in their official nicknames. Vermont, known as "The Green Mountain State," gets its name from the Green Mountains, which explorer Samuel de Champlain named "Verd Mont” (French for "green mountain") in 1647. West Virginia is called "The Mountain State" because it lies entirely within the Appalachian Mountain region.

Colorado earned its nickname, “The Centennial State,” because it joined the Union in 1876, exactly a century after the United States became a nation. Prior to statehood, parts of Colorado were part of the Nebraska and Kansas territories. Colorado also goes by "Colorful Colorado," reflecting its stunning landscape, including the majestic Colorado Rockies.

Although the United States Constitution was written and signed in Philadelphia in 1787, Connecticut is known as the “Constitution State” due to historian John Fiske's claim in the 1800s that the country’s first constitution was penned there. This document, called the Fundamental Orders, outlined the government’s powers and limitations in towns along the Connecticut River in 1638 and 1639.

Maryland’s nickname, “Old Line State,” was likely given by George Washington during the Revolutionary War, referring to the First Maryland Regiment’s heroic efforts in holding off British forces and aiding Washington’s army in escaping. Maryland is also called “America in Miniature” due to its diverse landscape and significant role in American history, and “the Free State” for its opposition to Prohibition in the early 20th century.

Sunflowers have been cultivated on the Kansas prairie by Native Americans for thousands of years, and in 1903, the sunflower was declared the state flower. While Kansas is nicknamed the “Sunflower State,” South Dakota is currently the largest producer of sunflowers in the U.S., with Kansas ranking fourth in production.

Arkansas has had various nicknames over the years, but “The Natural State” became popular in the 1980s as a tourism slogan. Officially adopted in 1995, the nickname highlights Arkansas' "unsurpassed scenery, clear lakes, free-flowing streams, magnificent rivers, meandering bayous, delta bottomlands, forested mountains, and abundant fish and wildlife," as described by the legislative act.

Only a few state nicknames reference colors. California is the Golden State, and Georgia is the Peach State (if you consider it a color as well as a fruit). Nevada is the Silver State, and Minnesota is sometimes called the Land of Sky-Blue Waters. However, Vermont, known as the Green Mountain State, and Washington, known as the Evergreen State, are the only two states with the same color in their nicknames.