Chapter 1
The wild frontier of animal nicknames
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Chapter 2
Bizarre origins of famous insults
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Chapter 3
Geography and the natural world
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Chapter 4
Politics, history, and official battles
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YOUR GOAL
Master of Secret histories of state nicknames
Ch 1 · The wild frontier of animal nicknames
schopenhauer Wisconsin Badger State Nickname
Digging the hills, living in caves, badgers are born!
schopenhauer Minnesota became the "Gopher State" thanks to a satirical political cartoon in 1857.
Fun Fact
Gopher cartoon: Minnesota's gopher nickname comes from an 1857 political cartoon mocking local politicians as greedy rodents.
schopenhauer Michigan is the "Wolverine State" despite having almost no actual wolverines in its entire history.
Glossary
gopher (noun)
A burrowing rodent with fur-lined cheek pouches, native to North and Central America. An 1857 political cartoon depicting local politicians as these rodents gave Minnesota its lasting state moniker.
A burrowing rodent with fur-lined cheek pouches, native to North and Central America. An 1857 political cartoon depicting local politicians as these rodents gave Minnesota its lasting state moniker.
BETA
schopenhauer Match wild animal nicknames to their states to discover the history behind unique state trivia.
Quiz
Which animal on Oregon's state flag represents its historic 19th-century fur trade?
Quiz
Which state is nicknamed the "Pelican State" due to its coastal bird colonies?
Quiz
Which state is the "Wolverine State" despite historically lacking a native wolverine population?
Quiz
Which state is known as the "Hawkeye State" in honor of a famous Native American leader?