State of the Month – Massachusetts

Here is the next instalment of my monthly feature going through the States of the United States in alphabetical order to check out how they got named, what their flag is like and other things of interest. 

Location – Massachusetts is a New England state.  One of the original 13 colonies.

Pronounciation – mass-a-shoe-sis (not proper phonetic spelling just how I say it)

Nickname – The Bay State

Flag

Capital – Boston (famous for that Tea Party)

Flower – Mayflower

Bird – Black capped chickadee, Wild Turkey

State Tree – American Elm

State Sport – Basketball and volleyball are said to have been invented in Massachusetts 

Signature foods – Boston Cream Pie, Boston Baked Beans, Clam Chowder

Rockport

Famous places to visit – Harvard University, Cheers location, Appalachian Trail, Rockport, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard

Famous businesses/brands – Berkshire Hathaway, Converse, Facebook,

Famous people from Massachusetts  - The Kennedy's, e.e. cummings, Sylvia Plath, Dr Seuss, Norman Rockwell, Dr Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Whistler (the artist), Bette Davis, Geena Davis, Jay Leno, Barbara Walters, Louisa May Alcott, George Patton, Leonard Bernstein, James Taylor, Donna Summer, Alexander Graham Bell

Go to this Pinboard to see the States of the Month so far.  After this State there are still 25 left to do!