North Carolina is nicknamed the Tar Heel State, and entered into Statehood on November 21, 1789.  The North Carolina State Capital is Raleigh, and the North Carolina State motto is esse quam videri which means to be rather than to seem.  The North Carolina State flower is the dogwood (1941).  The North Carolina State tree is the pine (1963).  The North Carolina State bird is the cardinal (1943).  The North Carolina State mammal is the gray squirrel (1969).  The North Carolina State insect is the honeybee (1973).  The North Carolina State reptile is the eastern box turtle (1979).  The North Carolina State gemstone is emerald (1973).  The North Carolina State shell is the scotch bonnet (1965).  The North Carolina State historic boat is the shad boat (1987).  The North Carolina State song is "The Old North State" (1927).  The North Carolina State colors are red and blue (1945).