America's 13 most bizarrely specific official state appetizers, toys, soils, and more

Rhode Island legislators want to make calamari the official state appetizer... which isn't so crazy when you learn Oklahoma has designated an official multi-course meal

Really, who doesn't immediately associate calamari with Rhode Island?
(Image credit: Mascarucci/Corbis)

State symbols are meant to represent the cultural heritage and historic treasures of each of the nation's 50 states. There are the obvious if unimaginative ones — flag, seal, motto — and then there are the more obscure groups — state footwear, anyone? While some of these items do make a lot of sense (Texas' state footwear, for example, is, duh, the cowboy boot), others have a hazier connection to their respective states. Here, 13 of our favorites.

1. Rhode Island's (proposed) official state appetizer: Calamari

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Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.