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Montana’s official nickname is the Treasure State, reflecting its mineral resources. Other nicknames include Big Sky Country, Bonanza State, Land of Shining Mountains, and Stubbed-Toe State. Montana has many state symbols, including an official state animal, bird, fish, flower, herb, and tree, as well as a state seal that showcases the state’s landscape and mining history.
Montana is a state with many nicknames, one of which is treasure state. The Treasure State, which is also Montana’s official nickname, refers to the mineral resources, such as gold and silver, found within the state. Eventually, continued mining led to the discovery of other minerals in the state, including copper, garnet, and platinum. Montana’s mineral wealth is such a factor in identifying the state that it even extends to the state’s two official gemstones, which are agate and sapphire. Even the official state motto demonstrates mineral wealth, reading Oro y Plata, which means “gold and silver” in Spanish.
While the Treasure State is Montana’s official nickname, the state is also known by a variety of other nicknames, such as Big Sky Country. This nickname comes from the book Big Sky by Alfred Bertram Guthrie Jr. and refers to the state’s wide open landscape and immense skyline. It was the Montana State Highway Department that started using this moniker in the 1960s during a tourism promotion. The nickname gained popularity and was even put on Montana state license plates; it is also in the official state quarter.
In addition to Treasure State and Big Sky Country, other nicknames given to Montana over the years include Bonanza State, Land of Shining Mountains and Stubbed-Toe State. Much like Treasure State’s nickname, Bonanza State reflects Montana’s resources. Land of Shining Mountains refers to the glistening snow on the Rocky Mountains in the state’s west, but for some it can also refer to the minerals found there. Stubbed-Toe State is a rather unusual nickname and its origin, for the most part, is unknown. One speculation is that this nickname alludes to the mountains and their danger to hikers.
In general, state nicknames, along with other state symbols, are meant to instill pride in one’s state and to promote statehood to others. Montana state symbols celebrate the life and beauty of the state, from its animals to geographic features to its history. In addition to an official state nickname, Montana also has an official state animal, bird, and fish, as well as a state flower, herb, and tree. One state symbol in particular, the state seal, displays state pride in its landscape, showcasing geographic features such as mountains, trees, and the Missouri River. At the forefront of this landscape, the state seal also depicts the state’s agricultural background and important mining history with imagery of pickaxe, plow and shovel.
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