The nickname for Ohio and its inhabitants--Buckeye--became official in 1953 when the legislature named the Ohio Buckeye the state tree. The buckeye tree derives the name from its large brown seeds, which resemble the eyes of the white-tailed deer.

Ohio adopted the cardinal as its official bird in 1933. A permanent resident of Ohio, the cardinal is known for its clear, strong song and brilliant plumage.

The red carnation was adopted as Ohio's state flower in 1904 in memory of President William McKinley, who always wore a red carnation in his lapel.

The Ohio legislature adopted the white-tailed deer, the state's largest game animal, as the state animal in May 1988. The white-tailed deer can be found in all of Ohio's 88 counties, although about 80 percent of the herd lives in hilly eastern Ohio.

Ohio's state flag was adopted in 1902. The Ohio burgee, as the swallowtail design is properly called, was designed by John Eisemann. The large blue triangle represents Ohio's hills and valleys, and the stripes represent roads and waterways. The 13 stars grouped about the circle represent the original states of the union; the 4 stars added to the peak of the triangle symbolize that Ohio was the 17th state admitted to the union. The white circle with its red center not only represents the "O" in Ohio, but also suggests Ohio's famous nickname, "The Buckeye State."

 "The Great Seal of the State of Ohio." The seal depicts a sheaf of wheat representing Ohio's agricultural strength and a bundle of seventeen arrows shows Ohio to be the 17th state to enter the Union. The Scioto River flows between Mount Logan and the cultivated fields in the foreground. The original design is said to have been the cooperative inspiration of  Thomas Worthington, "Father of Ohio Statehood;" Edward Tiffin, the first governor; and William Creighton, first secretary of state.  After an all-night meeting at "Adena", the magnificent estate of Worthington, they viewed the sun rising over Mt. Logan and the hills of what is now Great Seal State Park thus inspiring the scene of the Great Seal of the State of Ohio.The current design of the Great Seal of the State of Ohio was officially adopted in 1967 and modified in 1996. Thirteen rays around the sun represent the thirteen original colonies shining over the first state in the Northwest Territory. The background contains a portrayal of Mount Logan, with a three-quarter full sun rising behind it--symbolizing that Ohio was the first state west of the Allegheny Mountains.

Another interesting tidbit, there have been 8 presidents from the state of Ohio, earning Ohio the nickname of:  "The Mother of Presidents"