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Pennsylvania's nickname is The Keystone State because it was the middle colony of the original 13 colonies and because Pennsylvania has held a key position in the economic, social, and political development of the United States. The state song of Pennsylvania also mentions the state nickname in the second verse: "Birthplace of a mighty nation, Keystone of the land."
The word keystone is from architecture, it describes the central wedge-shaped stone in an arch which holds all the other stones in place. Three of our most treasured documents were written in Pennsylvania: the US Constitution, the Declaration of independence, and the Gettysburg address.

Blue and gold Pennsylvania license plate featuring a "keystone"
photo © Norm Russo
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