Florida Guide > Travelling
The State Nicknames Part 3
We have always been fascinated by the different number plates on American cars in Florida, and have seen all but two state plates at the last count. If you take a look at the number plates on cars you will be able to see which state the car originated from. There is usually a nickname associated with each state, and these often have very interesting origins. Here are the nicknames of N Dakota, S Dakota, and Delaware.
North Dakota
If you look on the number plates of cars from North Dakota you will see the nickname ‘Peace Garden State. ’ This refers to the International Peace Garden which straddles the boundary between Manitoba, Canada, and North Dakota. This nickname was formally adopted in 1957. The International Peace Garden is devoted to World Peace, and this botanical garden covers 2339 acres, which are visited by thousands of tourists each year. Over 150, 000 flowers provide dazzling and colourful displays, together with pools and terraced walkways. A 14-bell chime echoes over the garden and a 120 ft concrete Peace Tower and Peace Chapel can be seen at the end of the formal garden. A permanent display is that of the American and Canadian flags, made in flowers, and the garden continues to develop.
Steel girders from the New York World Trade Center were brought here at a 911 Memorial, and seven Peace Poles were presented by the Japanese Government with ‘May Peace Prevail’ written in twenty eight different languages. It is a tranquil place, and for this beautiful state to recognise this unique garden on its number plates seems very apt.
However, it has another fascinating name, ‘Flickertail State’ which refers to the Richardson ground squirrels which abound in North Dakota, and which characteristically flick their tails just before entering their nests. Another attempt to introduce a different nickname on state licence plates took place in 1973 when the Roughrider State was suggested. Roughriders were volunteer US Cavalry who fought in the Spanish-American War, but this attempt was defeated.
South Dakota
Who cannot have seen those huge and famous sculptures of the four American presidents, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, which are located on Mount Rushmore? So it is hardly surprising that one of the state’s nicknames is ‘Mount Rushmore State, ’ in celebration of these epic carvings. Standing 60 ft high and over 500 ft up these huge faces overlook forests of pine, birch, aspen and spruce.
However, it is its more modern nickname that graces its number plates, ‘Great Faces, Great Places. ’
Delaware
On December 7th, 1787 Delaware became the first of the 13 original states to ratify the US Constitution, so it is no surprise that its nickname is ‘The First State. ’
However, one of its other names is the ‘Diamond State, ’ due to the fact that Thomas Jefferson called it a ‘jewel’ among states due to its strategic location on the Eastern Seaboard.
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