Utah and Minnesota adopted new state flags in 2024, and the future may bring us more. Illinois, Maine, and Massachusetts have discussed doing the same. Utah and Minnesota created new flags that follow the 5 Basic Principles of Flag Design outlined by Ted Kaye in Good Flag and Bad Flag, as discussed in my previous blog.
UTAH
The state of Utah adopted its new flag on March 9, 2024. Prior to then, the basic design included the state seal of Utah on a blue background, which is like many other state flags. The flag has gone through a few iterations since 1896, when the seal was adopted. The original flag included a white seal on a blue background.
In 1912, a group known as the Sons and Daughters of Utah Pioneers ordered a Utah state flag. The manufacturers had changed the flag coloring the seal and encircled it with a gold ring. They liked the “mistake” and the group introduced legislation to change the flag officially.
In 1922, a flag maker stitched the year 1847 above the year 1896 instead of in its correct position on the shield. This flag was used as a template moving forward, and it is believed every flag made since 1922 included the mistake. The error was discovered in 2011, at which time the Legislature required that manufacturers correct the flags. There is a belief that the error went unnoticed for so long because the design was too intricate.
In January 2022, Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson invited Utahns to share ideas for a new state flag. More than 7,000 flag designs were submitted. The winning flag design includes six main components:
- Blue Field: Represents Utah’s skies and lakes.
- White Mountains: Symbolizes snowy peaks and peace.
- Red Canyons Stripe: Represents Utah’s southern landscape and perseverance.
- Hexagon: Stands for prosperity and unity.
- Beehive: Utah’s nickname, symbolizing industry.
- Star: Honors the five tribal nations and Utah’s place as the 45th state.
MINNESOTA
In 1893, the Minnesota legislature adopted the first state flag, which was white on one side and bright blue on the other. In the center of the flag was the state seal and the motto L’Etoile du Nord (“The Star of the North”). The significant dates of 1819, 1858, and 1893 were around the seal, and Minnesota was written below the seal, all in gold. Nineteen gold stars were arranged in clusters to form the five points of a star.
In 1957, the flag was redesigned right before the state’s centennial. The flag was changed to all royal blue to reduce the cost of producing the flags. The flag included a simplified seal, motto, and same dates but added a blue and white ring bordered in gold. In 1983, the seal was redrawn, and the background color was lightened to a medium blue. Around the seal, the flag still showed Minnesota’s historically significant years, with pink and white lady’s slippers and 19 stars placed the same as in the 1957 flag design.
In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature decided to hold a contest to create a new state flag and seal. They received 2,128 flag designs from Minnesotans. The new flag was adopted on May 11, 2024. The new flag features:
- A dark blue outline of Minnesota on the left side.
- A white, 8-point star representing the state’s motto “L’Etoile du Nord” (“The Star of the North”).
- The rest of the flag is bright blue, symbolizing the state’s lakes and rivers, including the Mississippi River and Lake Superior.
The redesigns of these flags reflect a trend toward simplification and more meaningful symbolism. It will be interesting to see how other states follow suit in the coming years.