INFO VINE * The Historical Meaning Behind Each State Flag *

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The United States' flag is one of the most recognizable flags in the world. When people think of the United States they usually think of that flag, not knowing that all the states within the U.S. also have their own unique flag that holds historical meaning to their lands. You probably wouldn't be able to recognize or place most of these flags if you saw them, but not to worry, scroll through this gallery to not only see all these flags but to find out more about them. 

Courage and Purity

The flag of Alabama carries the symbol of a St. Andrew (disciple of Jesus) crimson cross on a “field of white.” The red X-shape cross stood for the crucifixion of St. Andrew. Alabama’s flag is one of four state flags that does not carry the color blue, instead the red signifies courage and the color white represents purity. 



Photo Courtesy: [Alabama State Flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


When Alabama joined the Confederate in 1861, they switched flags, then when they returned to the Union states, they decided to switch flags again, but with a new message/design. The bars that create the X-shape were intentionally designed to be no less than six inches thick as specified in Act 383. 

Designed by a Kid

Alaska was not yet a state when the governor of the territory, sometime in 1926, organized a children’s contest to design the territory flag. In 1927, a 13-year-old boy known as Benny Benson submitted a few of his designs to the contest. He received notice that one of them had been accepted via a telegram that arrived at his school in an orphanage. 



Photo Courtesy: [Alaska State Flag / wikipedia.org]


His design consisted of the forget-me-not flowers and eight stars in gold amongst the blue-colored field which represented the sky. The north star represented Alaska which would become the northernmost state after being admitted into the Union. The color gold represented the wealth of Alaska’s mines, wildlife, and marine life. 

Honoring the 13 Colonies

Arizona’s state flag was designed in 1917, the top half includes thirteen rays which represent the thirteen colonies that were the foundation of the United States plus the sunset rays. The rays alternate with red and yellow in honor of the flags that Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado carried on his expedition in Arizona in 1540. 



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The large copper-colored star in the middle represents the wealth of copper in Arizona. The bottom half of the flag is blue representing the Colorado River flowing through the state, the blue also represents freedom. 

The only Diamond-mine

Although the Arkansas state-flag is simple, it carries various symbols. The first symbol would be the diamond shape in the middle which represents the only diamond-shaped mine in the country. The 25 stars around the border of the diamond represent Arkansas being the 25th state to join the Union. 



Photo Courtesy: [Arkansas State Flag / wikipedia.org]


The three stars which sit below the name “Arkansas” represent the three countries it has been run by, Spain, France, and the U.S. The three stars also signify Arkansas as the third state of the Louisiana Purchase and the star above the word “Arkansas” represents the Confederacy. The red, white, and blue colors signify the Union. 

The Bear Flag

California’s state flag was initially a form to intimidate Mexican officials since California hadn’t yet won independence from Mexico in the 1800s. In the middle of the flag, it carries a grizzly bear which represents strength. The bear was a common animal of California, although over time it has become extinct. 



Photo Courtesy: [California State Flag / wikipedia.org]


The red star represents sovereignty and the red bar underneath represents courage and strength. The flag was standardized and adopted in 1911. Many who carried the original Bear flag were noted drunks and thieves. Since the state has drastically changed over the past century, the history and significance of the flag is not so fitting. 

The C

Colorado’s state flag consists of blue and white stripes that represent the skies (blue) and the metal silver (white) which Colorado is the top producer of as well as a representation of the white Rocky Mountains. 



Photo Courtesy: [Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay ]


The letter C in red represents the color of the earth while the golden disk inside the letter C represents the Gold Rush in the 1800s. The flag was adopted in 1911, but because the measurements of the “C” and the golden disk were not initially discussed, the flag went through numerous variations until it landed with this one. 

Three Grapevines

Connecticut’s state flag was originally inspired by the Saybook’s seal which carried 15 grapevines. The flag was designed with a white baroque in the middle of the flag with three grapevines which represented the three colonies that merged together to form the state. The three colonies were New Haven, Saybook, and Hartford. 



Photo Courtesy: [Connecticut State Flag / wikipedia.org]


There is then a phrase below the golden-outlined shield with the state’s motto in Latin “Qui Transtulit Sustinet” that translates to “He Who Transplanted Still Sustains.” The flag was designed by the Daughters of the American Revolution and was adopted in 1895. 

The First State in the Union

Delaware was the first state admitted in the Union and they made sure to remember the date by placing it on their flag “December 7, 1787” as their motto. The color blue and buff used in the flag represent the color of the uniform George Washington used. 



Photo Courtesy: [Delaware State Flag / wikipedia.org]


The middle consists of a coat of arms with an ox in the middle of the shield, corn, and wheat that represents the farmlands and agriculture of the state. The Delaware River in the shield symbolizes transportation, a sailing ship for commerce, and both a farmworker and military man that represents the freedom and abundance of the nation.

The First Southern State with a Flag 

Florida’s state flag consists of a red St. Andrew crimson cross with the seal of the state in the middle. Along the circumference of the seal’s border, the state’s motto says, “Great Seal of The State of Florida” along with “In God We Trust.” 



Photo Courtesy: [Florida State Flag / wikipedia.org]


The crimson cross was only placed in 1900 when Governor Francis P. requested for the new design as it seemed that the seal on a white field represented a state of weakness and surrender. The seal consists of a Native American woman tossing flower blossoms along the river. The mockingbird, the manatee, the orange tree, and the dolphin are all symbolic of the state’s native species. Florida was the first Southern state to acquire a state flag after the Civil War. 

A lot of Changes

Georgia’s state had been switching its flag way too often since its militia flag in 1861, following with others in 1920, 1956, 2001, and lastly in 2004. There were numerous disputes over how much the flag should remain to represent the Confederate. 



Photo Courtesy: [Georgia State Flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


In 2004, the flag’s design remained with the thirteen stars just as the original Confederate flag carried. The state’s seal sits in the middle surrounded by the thirteen stars which represent the thirteen colonies of the U.S. and the state’s motto is written out on the ribbons “Wisdom”, “Justice”, and “Moderation.” The color of the stars are white, signifying purity and the red bars signified strength. This flag was adopted in 2004. 

To Bridge the two Nations

Hawaii’s original flag had all bars of yellow, green, and red with a coat of arms shield in the middle with two paddles and a Kahili. The colors represented the different groups of people in Hawaii. In the 18th century, King George III offered his flag to King Kamehameha I as a sign of friendship. 



Photo Courtesy: [Hawaii state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


King Kamehameha raised an American flag as a sign of interest in the land, however, British officials refused the American flag. Later King Kamehameha decided to create a new flag that incorporated both nations. The red, blue, and white bars along with the Union Jack in the corner represented both the colors of America and Britain. 

Created By a Woman

Idaho’s state flag carries the only state seal of the U.S. ever designed by a woman (Emma Edwards Green). Within the seal, there is a miner who represents one of the top industries of the state and a woman with a spear representing justice and a scale to represent equality. 



Photo Courtesy: [Idaho state flag / wikipedia.org]


Forests and farmland represent the agriculture of the land of Idaho. The flag is a deep blue with the golden and yellow colors of the seal and ribbon that represents the gold mining of the state. The white star represents the newness and light of the U.S. 

The State of Sovereignty

The Illinois state flag consists of an eagle with a red-colored ribbon banner with the state’s motto “State Sovereignty, National Union” on a white field. When Sharon Tyndale (Secretary of State) requested to change the order of the motto and was refused by the Senate, he did arrange them in a way where “sovereignty” ended up upside down and difficult to read. 



Photo Courtesy: [Illinois State Flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


The eagle carries the symbolic seal of the country with the thirteen stars and the red, white, and blue colors along with the thirteen stripes. The year 1818 was placed on a rock beside the eagle which represents the date when Illinois became a state. The year 1868 was the date when the flag was redesigned. 

Liberty and Enlightenment

The Indiana state flag is an all blue flag with nineteen stars surrounding a golden flaming torch. Thirteen of the stars represent the thirteen colonies, five of them represent the states which were admitted into the Union before Indiana, and the last star (slightly larger than the rest) stands above the flames of the torch representing Indiana. 



Photo Courtesy: [Indiana state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


The torch in the center is a symbol of liberty and enlightenment while the rays represent the influence on all else, emitting those two virtues. This one flag was a design by artist Paul Hadley who won the design contest organized by the Daughters of the American Revolution. 

It took long Enough

Iowa’s state flag was adopted 75 years after being admitted into the Union. They were just fine with using the national flag until it was pointed out and obvious enough that Iowa didn’t have anything to visually represent it in WWI at the Mexican border. The flag was designed in 1917 by Dixie Cornell Gebhardt, although it would take until 1921 to be adopted. 



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The state flag has three vertical stripes that are blue, white, and red with an eagle (freedom) carrying a blue ribbon (loyalty) with the state’s motto “Our Liberties We Prize, and Our Rights We Will Maintain” which are originally found in the state seal. The flag resembles that of the French since the colors were chosen in honor of their territory Louisiana. 

Sunflower Flag

The Kansas state flag consists of the state seal in the center of a blue background. The seal carries the symbolism of agriculture, commerce, and direction; in the seal, there is a man plowing a field, a steamboat on a river, and the sunrise (on the east). There are 34 stars that represent Kansas as the 34th state to have been admitted to the Union. 



Photo Courtesy: [Kansas state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


A motto in Latin translates to “To the stars through difficulties.” There is a sunflower above the seal which is separated by a gold and blue bar representing the Louisiana Purchase. The first design was adopted in 1927 and redesigned a tad bit in 1961. 

United or Fall

Kentucky's state flag design consists of the state seal in the center with two men shaking hands on a blue field of loyalty. One man represents the pioneer (frontiersman) wearing buckskin and the other represents the statesman wearing a suit. 



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The state motto is written out in blue, “United we stand, Divided we fall.'' Surrounding the seal there are goldenrod flowers (state flowers) and another text is written in gold, “Common Wealth of Kentucky.” When Kentucky joined the Union in 1792, the state flew both Confederate and Union flags over Kentucky. 

The Pelican

Louisiana’s state flag's main feature is the pelican picking at her own flesh to feed her three young pelicans in the center of an azure field. This represents the state’s will to sacrifice for its people, the same message had been introduced since colonial times, that of charity and selflessness. 



Photo Courtesy: [Louisiana state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


A kid from Houma made it known that the pelican did not have any droplets of blood, so in 2006, the state legislator ensured that the flag be redesigned with them. The state’s motto is written in blue letters on a white ribbon, “Union Justice Confidence." 

Lead the Way

Maine’s state flag consists of the state seal in the same shade of blue as used in the national flag. The star above the state’s motto, “Dirigo” which means “I Lead”, represents the north star Polaris which signifies direction. 



Photo Courtesy: [Maine state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


In the center shield, there is the pine state tree, the moose which represents the state animal, and the sea. Both the farmer and the sailor represent the agriculture and roots to both wildlife and marine life. The current Maine flag was adopted in 1909 and may come to change in the near future. 

“The Perfect State Flag”

Maryland’s state flag has been marked as the “perfect state flag” by the Secretary of State. The design stems from the shield in the Calvert’s coat of arms. The colors of the flag originate from George Calvert’s maternal and paternal sides. 



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The black and yellow banners represent his paternal side and the red and white Crossland represent the maternal side. The black and yellow also symbolize the time with the Union, whereas the red and white were received by those who supported the South. 

One two-sided state Flag

Massachusetts is one of two state flags that are two-sided, the flag features a Native American man who is golden colored with a bow and arrow on hand. There is a white star which represents the state being one of the thirteen original colonies. The arm holding a blade above the shield represents the freedom gained via the American Revolution. 



Photo Courtesy: [Massachusetts state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


The state motto on the blue ribbon is written in Latin which translates to “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.” There are speculations about the flag being an insult to the Native Americans, which is why its design is being reconsidered. 

Three Mottos

The Michigan state flag features the coat of arms in the center on a blue field, an elk on the left and a moose on the right are holding up the shield representing the nation’s land and state animal. The national eagle above the shield holds up a branch of 13 olives and three arrows which represents the authority of the state with peace (olives) in mind. 



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The first motto on the red ribbon above the eagle translates to “From many, one”, the second within the shield “I will defend”, and the third below the shield translates to “If you seek a pleasant significance, look about you.” 

The 19th state after the 13

Minnesota’s state flag features the state seal in the middle. The design has 19 stars which represents Minnesota being the 19th state to join the Union after the 13 colonies. 



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There are three dates written in the ribbons amongst white and pink flowers; the first is the statehood year in 1858, the second was when Fort Felling was established in 1819, and lastly was when the first Minnesota flag was adopted in 1893. There are 87 golden circles around the wreath which symbolize the 87 counties in Minnesota. 

Mississippi

Just recently in 2020, Mississippi changed their flag to a new design that no longer represented the Confederate with their emblem. The magnolia flower in the middle represents the blossoming of a “new” nation coming together as “family.” 



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The words “In God We Trust” are written below the magnolia with 20 white stars surrounding the flower which symbolizes Mississippi as the 20th state to join the Union. The bigger golden star represents the Indigenous people in the state. 

 Grizzly bears for Strength

Apparently, Missouri bumped it up a notch with not one but two grizzly bears to represent the strength of the nation. In the center of the flag, the state seal features two grizzly bears on either side of the seal. 



Photo Courtesy: [Missouri state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


A crescent moon symbolizes the intentions and visions of the future and 24 stars surrounding the coat of arms symbolize Missouri as the 24th state that joined the Union. The flag carries two mottos: “In God We Trust” and “Let the Welfare of the People be the supreme law.” The blue stripe represents permanence, the red represents courage, and white equals purity. 

Plata y Oro

The Montana state flag features the state seal in the center of a deep blue field. The seal features a sunrise over the mountains, trees, forestry, hills, and waterfalls, representing all of the nation’s natural beauty and resources. The prominent tools featured in the seal are a shovel, a pick, and a plow which represent Montana’s mining and farming industries. 



Photo Courtesy: [Montana state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


The ribbon features the state’s motto written in Spanish which translates to “gold and silver.” The original design was carried during the Spanish-American War and was adopted in 1904. The new version we see today was tweaked a bit in 1985. 

The Blacksmith State

Nebraska’s flag features the state seal with a steamboat traveling on the Missouri River and a train traveling to the Rocky Mountains. The hammer and anvil represent Nebraska's industry of blacksmithing. The state’s agriculture is represented by the corn and wheat pictured in the seal. The date March 1st, 1867 represents the date when the flag was designed. 



Photo Courtesy: [Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay ]


Only the mountains and land are colored in silver while the rest remains in gold upon the blue water which represents the nation’s abundant resources. The state motto “equality before the law” stands for the nation’s equality amongst its people before any authority’s/superiority’s measurements. 

The Silver State

After Nevada was named a state in 1864, there were four state flags over a 40 year period until Nevada’s current flag was adopted in 1991. The flag is quite simple with a banner on the left side of the flag upon a blue field. The silver star represents the state’s metal and hence it carries the nickname of “The Silver State.” 



Photo Courtesy: [Nevada state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


On top of the banner, “Battle Born” is written across a golden ribbon-like scroll which represents the nation joining the Union in the midst of the Civil War. The state’s flower sagebrush surrounds the written name “Nevada” to form a wreath. 

The first American ship to carry the Nation’s Flag

The New Hampshire state flag carries the state seal featuring the navy ship Raleigh from Portsmouth with the nation’s flag which symbolizes being the first American ship to ever carry the flag into battle. 



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The state seal is surrounded by laurel leaves in a wreath which signifies honor and victory. The nine stars, which also surround the ship, represent New Hampshire as the ninth state to get into the Union. The land made out of granite represents the strong and sturdy people of the state. 

Liberty and Prosperity State

New Jersey’s state flag carries the state seal with five prominent symbols. First off, the helmet and the head of the horse symbolize New Jersey being one of the first states to join the Union. The two women holding a shield are named Liberty and Ceres, Liberty carries a staff representing sovereignty and Ceres holding a cornucopia represents the land’s prosperity of fruits and vegetables. 



Photo Courtesy: [New Jersey state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


The state motto is “Liberty and Prosperity” written in a ribbon below the two women. The shield in the middle of the two women with plows and rows represents the agriculture of the state. The date “1776” signifies when New Jersey became a state. Lastly, the colors were chosen by George Washington considering the colors of the Dutch which were the first settlers in New Jersey & New York. 

The Circle of Life Flag

The New Mexico State flag, as simple as it may be, was voted as the best state flag by the North American Vexillological Association. The red sign in the middle of the flag is called Zia, an ancient Native American sun sign which stems from the Zia Pueblo in New Mexico. The sign symbolizes the Circle of Life respecting the number “four.” 



Photo Courtesy: [New Mexico state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


The symbol is embodied through the four seasons, four directions, four obligations, four elements, four human divisions, etc. The Zia stands in the center of a field of bright yellow. The colors were the prominent colors of Isabel de Castilla, the woman who was brought to America by the Spanish explorers. 

Ever Upward

New York’s state flag carries its own seal with two ships representing both inland and commerce from abroad. The shield is supported by two women, representing Liberty and Justice, Liberty stands on the left with a cap on a pole which signifies the caps that were given to Roman slaves when freed. The crown by her left foot represents independence from the British that ruled New York for some time. 



Photo Courtesy: [New York state flag / wikipedia.org ]


On the right side of the shield stands Justice with a blindfold over her eyes and a scale both signifying fair treatment. The eagle on top of the shield represents New York’s placement around the nation bridging the old and the New World. The state’s motto written in Latin translates to “Ever Upward,” meaning to always reach for even brighter goals and visions. 

N & C

North Carolina’s flag features the same old bold colors of blue, red, and white with the state’s initials and two important dates in history for the state. On the top ribbon, the date “May 20, 1775” signifies the date when the people declared their freedom when the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was signed. 



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The other date is written on the bottom ribbon “April 12, 1776” which represents when they passed the Halifax Resolves. The white star between the letters N & C represents the signature of the state. 

Representing the U.S, not the State 

North Dakota’s state flag has a bald eagle in the middle of a blue field carrying a ribbon on its beak with the state’s motto that says “E Pluburus Unum'' which translates to “out of many, one” signifying the various states come to form one nation. The eagle is holding up a bundle of arrows in its left talon and a branch of olives in the right representing justice and peace. 



Photo Courtesy: [North Dakota state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


The thirteen stars of the thirteen colonies sitting above the eagle with a crown of sun-rays represent the conception of a new nation. Many have concluded North Dakota’s flag is solely a mirror of the U.S. as a whole and nothing that truly represents the state itself. 

Burgee Shaped Flag

The only flag that is not in a rectangle shape is Ohio’s. The state flag was designed in the shape of a burgee by John Eisenmann in 1901. Its shape was purposefully designed to represent the valleys and hills via the triangular lines and the roads and water streams of the state reflected through the stripes on the flag. 



Photo Courtesy: [Ohio state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


The circle is a symbol of its state name “Ohio” and the Northwestern Territory. There are thirteen stars on the left side of the circle which stands for the 13 colonies, and the additional four on the right side of the circle represent Ohio as the 17th state to join the Union. 

In Honor of the Natives

The Oklahoma state flag unquestionably honors the Native American tribes and ancestors with their design of a peace pipe across the Osage warrior’s shield with feathers and an olive branch. These three features represent peace yet the will to defend the state (shield) if need be. 



Photo Courtesy: [Image by RJA1988 from Pixabay ]


In this instance, the flag’s blue color is a paid tribute to the Choctaw Indians’ flag that they carried during the civil war. The six red crosses are significant to the Natives, like the stars to the U.S. Designed by Louise Funk Fluke, the flag was adopted in 1925 and tweaked once again in 1941 adding the name of the state Oklahoma below the shield. 

The Beaver State

Oregon’s state flag is the other two-sided flag in the U.S. It features the seal with a shield full of pine trees, a covered wagon, a mountain, a British ship, and an American ship traveling through the Pacific Ocean. To honor the Union, the shield holds the written words “The Union” in the middle. 



Photo Courtesy: [Oregon state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


The year “1859” represents the year Oregon was signed into the Union and the 33 stars surrounding the shield signify Oregon as the 33rd state to join the Union. On the backside of the flag, there is a proud beaver resting on the blue field, which represents the beaver’s important role in history’s trade market. 

Natural Resources and Fertile Lands

Pennsylvania’s flag features two horses holding up the shield which represents courage and strength. There is a ship within the shield that symbolizes the state’s commerce all around the globe. The clay plow represents the state’s natural resources and three sheaves colored in gold which signify the fertile lands of the state. 



Photo Courtesy: [Pennsylvania state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


The state’s motto is written out on a red ribbon “Virtue, Liberty and Independence.” The corn stock that sits below the shield on the left side represents prosperity, and the olive branch to the right side represents peace. The eagle symbolizes the state’s loyalty to its people and the land. 

Anchored Hope

Rhode Island’s state flag has one with the simplest symbolism featured, the flag has a golden anchor in a white field amongst 13 stars which represents the 13 colonies, and Rhode Island as the 13th state to join the Union. 



Photo Courtesy: [Rhode Island state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


A ribbon with the state’s motto “HOPE” sits beneath the anchor which references back to a phrase from the bible which says, “hope we have as an anchor of the soul.” The anchor also signifies Rhode Island as a significant port of marine activity. Both anchor and “hope” were used in the state’s seal as well. 

The Palmetto State

South Carolina’s state flag features a palm tree with a crescent moon on a field of blue. The color stems from the color of the military’s uniforms of South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. The palm represents the symbol of defense at a palm fort during the 1776 battle against the British troops on Sullivan’s Island. 



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The crescent moon is a symbolic emblem that soldiers wore on their hats in that battle. The flag was designed by Colonel William Moultrie originally for the troops to use in 1775, but the flag would come to be redesigned in 1861, then again tweaked a couple more times. 

“The Sunshine State” to “The Mount Rushmore State” 

South Dakota’s state flag features the intricate state’s seal in the center of yet another blue field. The white drawing shows a river and riverboat which represent the state’s commerce and also has a mine, a cattle, and a farmer representing the agriculture of South Dakota. Lastly, the mines and hills represent the industry of the state and its natural resources. 



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The year “1889” symbolizes when South Dakota became a state. The yellow sun rays surrounding the seal represent the state’s fine sunny days. The state’s name and its nickname “The Mount Rushmore State'' surround the seal and the sunrays, even though its nickname once used to be “The Sunshine State” until 1963. 

Trinity State

Tennessee’s state flag was designed by LeRoy Reeves, the three white stars represent the unity of the east, middle, and west which now make up Tennessee. East Tennessee is known for its Smoky Mountains and its forestry, Middle Tennessee is known for livestock and farming, and West Tennessee is known for cotton production. 



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The symbol of the three stars being enveloped in a blue circle signifies the three divisions bound together as one. The color red allows the circle to stand out and a thin white bar with a thick blue bar at the end of the rectangle doesn’t allow the red to take over entirely either, the colors signify loyalty and courage. 

The Lone Star State

Texas was the 28th state to join the Union in 1845 and the Lone Star flag was adopted a few years prior to in 1838. Texas’ state flag features the white lone star on a deep blue field, with thick white and red horizontal bars. The star on its own represents Texas as an independent state from Mexico. 



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It marked itself as a solidarity state, hence the nickname “The Lone Star State.” The white and red stripes were inspired by the Republic of Fredonia when settlers and Native Americans’ alliance was represented by these two stripes, this then propelled the Texas Revolution. 

The 45th State

Utah’s state flag features the state seal surrounded by a golden ring. The bald eagle holding the seal represents protection, the beehive in the seal represents the state’s hard work, and the state’s flower sego lily surrounding the beehive signifies peace. 



Photo Courtesy: [Utah state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


The year “1847” represents when the Mormons entered the land and the year “1896” was the date when Utah entered the Union. The state’s motto “Industry” and the name of the state are both written on the seal. The white stars in the seal represent Utah as the 45th state to have joined the Union. 

Freedom and Unity

The flag of Vermont features a seal with a cow representing the state’s natural resources and livestock. The state is known for its fine cheese and ice cream, so what other way to represent it than a cow? The wheat sheaves represent the state’s agriculture. The large pine in the middle of the landscape signifies the forestry in the state. 



Photo Courtesy: [Vermont state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


The deer that sits on top of the seal symbolizes the wildlife of Vermont as well as grace and peace. The state’s motto “Vermont, Freedom, and Unity” is written on a red ribbon below the seal which references freedom of the people and the stance of the state and the whole nation. 

Virtus!

The state flag of Virginia features the goddess of Virtue named Virtus, with a spear and a sword standing on top of a man she’s defeated who carries a whip and a sword, with his crown to the side, symbolizing Britain’s loss to sovereignty and power. The tyrant (the man) represents Britain, and Virtus represents Virginia. 



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Below the two, the state’s motto translates to “Thus always to Tyrants” surrounded by creepers and leaves forming a wreath. The white-colored seal signifies purity above all victory and tyranny amongst a blue field of loyalty. 

The Evergreen State

The state flag of Washington represents the iconic image/state seal of the first President of the U.S. George Washington, they even named the state after the man. The seal is surrounded by a golden circle with the words “The Seal of the State of Washington 1889.” 



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The “1889” represents when the state seal was adopted. The flag is a field of green which makes it the only green flag out of the 50 state flags, hence its nickname “The Evergreen State.” The flag was adopted in 1923, 30 years after joining the Union. 

Mountaineers are Freed

West Virginia’s state flag features the state seal on a field of white with blue borders along with the flag. In the seal, there is a rock with the date “June 20, 1863” which represents the statehood of West Virginia. The two men standing by the rock are a farmer and a miner which signify the state’s top industries. 



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The motto written on a red ribbon translates to “Mountaineers are always free.” The seal is surrounded by a wreath of the state’s flower, rhododendron. The hunting rifles and the caps on the ground symbolize the state’s liberty. 

Sea and Land Flag

Wisconsin’s state flag is a field of blue with the state’s seal and a sailor and miner on either side. They both represent the settlers of the state who work on both the sea and the land. The shield carries four sections, the first is a pick and a shovel which symbolize the mining industry, the second quadrant is a plow representing agriculture, the third is an arm and a hammer which signify the artisans and laborers, and the last is an anchor which represents shipping.



Photo Courtesy: [Wisconsin state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


The state’s animal, the badger, sits on top of the seal, and the motto above the animal which writes “Forward.” The year “1848” represents the year when Wisconsin joined the Union. 

The Buffalo State

Wyoming’s state flag carries the figure of a large buffalo (called “the monarch of the plains'') colored in white with the state seal on the side of its body, sort of like a brand. The date “1869” represents the territorial government organization and “1890” represents the year when Wyoming joined the Union. The Roman numerals represent Wyoming being the 44th state to join the Union. 



Photo Courtesy: [Wyoming state flag / wikimediacommons.com ]


The banner draping around the Liberty statue which says “Equal Rights'' represents the state’s equality of men and women in the political regime. The two men on each side represent the mining and livestock industries. And lastly, the pillars on each side of the statue with lit-up flames represent the Light of Knowledge.