All 50 American State Welcome Signs

When traveling through the United States it can be hard to know where you are and where state borders start and end. That’s when state welcome signs come into play. All 50 states (bar Hawaii, which doesn’t have an official sign) have a welcome sign that is not only a greeting but a marker so you know where the hell you are.

These signs vary from state to state and often contain the area’s nickname, such as Florida’s sign that also includes the words “Sunshine State,” another name for the state. The signs often represent the state as well and occasionally include pictures or images of relevant things connected to the state.

You might be familiar with some of these state signs, but there’s a good chance you haven’t encountered all of them. Many states also have multiple signs depending on where you enter, but we have done our best to find the signs that show up the most. As well as featuring all 50 state welcome signs, we’ve included a few facts about each state that will help with your next trivia night.

1. Alabama

The welcome to Alabama sign makes reference to the great southern rock band Lynard Skynyrd and their smash hit “Sweet Home Alabama.” Alabama is also the peanut capital of the world, with around 50% of the peanuts grown in the United States coming from the 900 peanut farms dotted around Dothan, Alabama.

2. Alaska

The Alaska welcome sign features a map of the state along with a nod to the historic Fortymile River Region. The state is an outdoor lover’s dream, with Alaska home to 17 of North America’s tallest mountains, more than 3,000 rivers, and more than 100 volcanos and volcanic fields, although there hasn’t been an eruption since the early 1900s.

3. Arizona

The 48th state is home to the Grand Canyon which attracts around five million people per view, which is why it is known as the Grand Canyon State. You can also find the famous Lake Powell within the state line.

4. Arkansas

Arkansas is also the only U.S. state that actively mines diamonds. Some of the most famous people from Arkansas include President William Jefferson Clinton, Johnny Cash, Al Green, Joey Lauren Adams, Billy Bob Thorton, and General Douglas MacArthur.

5. California

California is the “Avocado Capital of the World” and the birthplace of the internet. The state also has America’s largest outdoor theatre, The Hollywood Bowl, which opened in 1922.

6. Colorado

Colorful Colorado is a great place to visit for fans of nature. You can check out the world’s largest natural hot springs swimming pool, the world’s deepest hot springs, the world’s largest flat-top mountain, and the tallest sand dune in America. The famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre is also located in Colorado.

7. Connecticut

Connecticut is called the Constitution State due to it being the place where the first constitution was written. The state also has the world’s largest maritime museum and is where you can find the original home of Mark Twain, the author of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

8. Delaware

“Our Delaware” is the official state song of Delaware. Originally written by George Beswick Hynson in 1904 as a poem with three verses representing each of the three counties, it was turned into a song in 1925

9. Florida

It might be seen as the state where Americans go to retire, but there is much more to Florida than old people and heat. It produces 70% of the country’s oranges, is home to the World Golf Hall of Fame, has the most golf courses in America, and is a prime location for panther spotting, with the animal indigenous to the area.

10. Georgia

The phrase on the sign, “We’re glad Georgia’s on your mind,” is a reference to Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell’s 1930 song “Georgia on My Mind.” The song became a hit when covered by Ray Charles in 1960 and was named Georgia’s official song in 1979.

11. Hawaii

Along with beautiful sandy beaches and great waves, Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee commercially. It also has more wildlife species than any other state.

12. Idaho

Idaho comes from the Native American word meaning “the land of many waters.” It’s also referred to as the Gem State as you can find 72 different precious stones there.

13. Illinois

Illinois is the fifth most populated state in America and the largest producer of pumpkins. It’s also known as the “Land of Lincoln,” despite Abraham Lincoln not actually being born there.

14. Indiana

The state colors of Indiana are blue and gold. As the welcome sign indicates, Indiana is the “Crossroads of America” due to its central location at the junction of four major Interstate Highways – I-65, I-69, I-70, and I-74.

15. Iowa

The top corn producer in the United States, Iowa produces over two billion bushels of corn per year. There are over 30 million acres of farmland found across the state and the Red Delicious apple was first cultivated there.

16. Kansas

Kansas is believed to be named after a Native American tribe whose name means “people of the wind.”

17. Kentucky

The Kentucky Derby is the longest-running continuous horse race in the world. Every corvette since 1981 has been produced in the state.

18. Louisiana

New Orleans, one of the most popular cities in Louisiana, is not actually the capital. That right is reserved for Baton Rouge.

19. Maine

Most people know Maine thanks to its lobster, which is not surprising considering 90% of America’s lobster is caught there.

20. Maryland

“The Star-Spangled Banner” was written by Maryland resident Francis Scott Key after seeing the American flag waving during the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814.

21. Massachusetts

The capital of Massachusetts, Boston was established in 1630 when the state was founded and is the largest city in New England.

22. Michigan

Michigan is the only city in the world with a floating post office, is home to the largest crucifix in the world, the “Cross in the Woods,” and has the world’s largest weathervane.

23. Minnesota

Former WWE wrestler Jesse “The Body” Ventura was once the governor of Minnesota. He’s not the only famous governor, with Arnold Schwangeer leading California for two terms in the 00s.

24. Mississippi

The Magnolia state has the most churches per capita in all of the United States and also has the nation’s largest Bible-binding plant, located in Greenwood.

25. Missouri

The University of Missouri was the first college in the world to offer a journalism degree.

26. Montana

The name Montana is the Spanish word for mountain. The motto of Montana is “Oro y Plata,” which when translated from Spanish to English means “gold and silver.”

27. Nebraska

The Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha has the country’s largest indoor rainforest. There is also a lighthouse in Ashland despite the state being landlocked and nowhere near any ocean.

28. Nevada

Nevada has the largest wild horse population and is the driest state in America.

29. New Hampshire

New Hampshire has four nicknames. They are “The Granite State,” due to the number of quarries, “Mother of Rivers,” courtesy of the rivers of New England that originate in the mountains, “White Mountain State,” for the White Mountain Range, and “Switzerland of America,” for the breathtaking mountain scenery.

30. New Jersey

While The Sopranos is a fictional show about the mafia, the criminal organization still has a large presence in New Jersey to this day.

31. New Mexico

Albuquerque, New Mexico is where the TV series Breaking Bad is set. The state is also home to Roswell, the supposed site of an alien crash back in the 50s.

32. New York

Would you be surprised to learn that New York is also the state where New York City is found? It is one of the original 13 colonies established when America was founded, with people first believed to have lived there around 10,000 B.C.

33. North Carolina

One of the nicknames of North Carolina is the “Tar Heel State,” but nobody is quite sure why. The general consensus is that it is because the state is known for producing lots of tar, pitch, and turpentine.

34. North Dakota

You can find the Enchanted Highway in North Dakota. This 32-mile stretch of road is lined with several scrap metal sculptures including “Deer Crossing,” “Teddy Rides Again,” and “Grasshoppers in the Field.”

35. Ohio

Seven United States presidents were born in Ohio – Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William H. Taft, and Warren G. Harding. Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, was also from the state.

36. Oklahoma

Shopping carts were first invented and used in Oklahoma. It also has the second-largest Native American population after California.

37. Oregon

The city of Forest Grove is home to the world’s tallest barber pole. Built in 1973, the red, white, and blue pole stands 72 feet high.

38. Pennsylvania

Here is something most people probably don’t know; the smiley face emoticon was invented in the Pennsylvania city of Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon University Professor Scott Fahlman came up with the much-used symbol on September 19, 1982.

39. Rhode Island

Rhode Island is the smallest U.S. state but still has over 400 miles of coastline. The U.S. Open also first took place at Newport before moving to New York City.

40. South Carolina

American barbeque is believed to have originated in South Carolina.

41. South Dakota

The “Great faces. Great places,” phrase is referencing Mount Rushmore, which is a mountain containing the sculptures of U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

42. Tennessee

Tennessee whiskey can’t be made anywhere else in the world. Mountain Dew is also from Tennessee. We don’t recommend combing the two.

43. Texas

Dr. Pepper was invented in Texas in 1885, as was the first frozen margarita machine.

44. Utah

Utah has some of America’s greatest scenery, with Zion National Park, Arches National Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park all must-visit spots for people passing through.

45. Vermont

Vermont was the first state to join the original 13 colonies in 1791. It’s the birthplace of two U.S. Presidents – Calvin Coolidge and Chester A. Arthur – and outlawed billboards in 1968.

46. Virginia

Virginia’s state bird is called The Cardinal Grosbeak and the official state motto is “Sic Semper Tyrannis,” which translates to “Thus always to tyrants.”

47. Washington

The state of Washington is the home of grunge. Many of the genre’s biggest bands, including Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Mad Season, Screaming Trees, and Mother Love Bone, came from this state.

48. West Virginia

West Virginia is also known as the Mountain State because it’s the only American state completely within the Appalachian Mountain region. It was originally going to be called “Kanawha,” a name that honors a local Native American tribe, but officials wanted a more Western-sounding name.

49. Wisconsin

Home to the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Brewers, and Milwaukee Admirals, Wisconsin gets its name from the Wisconsin River, which was called Meskousing by the Algonquian-speaking tribes.

50. Wyoming

The state sign for Wyoming contains the phrase “Forever West,” which has been used as part of the state’s tourism drive. The campaign showcases “the untamed and wide open spaces unique to Wyoming” and has been a big success in attracting people to the state.