The Associated Press reported Monday that a resolution from St. Louis County Republican state Sen. John Lamping cleared the Senate and won an endorsement from a committee in the house. The bill urges the Division of Tourism to incorporate a new slogan into its marketing: "The Great Rivers State."
Though it’s never been made official, Missouri is widely known as the "Show-Me" state. It's even on our license plates, although you can now get a plate with the proposed new slogan on it.
Why the "Great Rivers" State?
Lamping’s measure points out that the state boasts more than 110,000 miles of rivers and streams. Plus, the Mississippi and Missouri rivers are significantly tied to the country’s history.
Missouri Stream Team Watershed Coalition executive director Holly Neill told the St. Louis Beacon she hopes the resolution will provide more incentive for people to explore and help conserve the state’s waterways.
Why the "Show-Me" State?
According to Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan’s website, Missouri Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1897 to 1903, is most commonly credited with coining the phrase during an 1899 speech at a naval banquet in Philadelphia.
"I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me," Vandiver said during the speech. "I am from Missouri. You have got to show me."
What other nicknames does Missouri have?
Besides the “Show-Me” state, Missouri is already being marked with other slogans, including “The Cave State” and “Where the Rivers Run.”
The state is also known as the "Lead State," the "Bullion State," the "Ozark State," the "Iron Mountain State" and the "Pennsylvania of the West," the Beacon reported.
What do you think? Should Missouri officially become the "Great Rivers" state or just stick with the "Show-Me" state? Or, do you prefer a different name?
I like the slogan "Gateway State". It highlights that the two great rivers were the gateway to the west. And later the wagon trains all came through here. BUT, when Lincoln put the transcontinintal railroad through his homestate and Chicago, we started losing out. Also later, Chicago received the airline hubs because they had passed us in size. Maybe by emphisizing that we are the "Gateway" would call attention to the fact that we are more centrally located and we could obtain transportation hubs and cargo hubs to help our economy, and which would encourage business headquarters to move here with quality jobs.
I only hope & pray that IF & WHEN the World ends..Misery [Missouri] will be the first place destroyed!!!
There are many things you could name the state. I prefer show me
It's niegh on to the year two thousand and thirteen, not 1684. We don't burn witches anymore. Your god is completely absent because he never existed. MO's been drinkin' the christian Koolaid for too long. Here's a perfect slogan, " We put the MO in MORONS" The world is starting to stand up to you pointless bastards and your self-serving rightwing/christian telebahn nonsence. Your glutoney and avarice is appauling and you heartless treatment of the poor and incapable is anything but christ like.