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The
Minnesota State Flag is a medium blue color with
a narrow gold border and a gold fringe. Centered
in the medium blue field is a circular emblem
with a white background and a yellow border.
Within the circular emblem an inner circle
surrounds scenes from the
Minnesota State Seal displayed on a field of
medium blue matching that of the general flag.
The inner circle is surrounded by 19 five
pointed stars representing Minnesota as the 19th
state, after the original 13 colonies, to join
the union. The stars are arranged in four groups
of four stars and one group of three stars at
the top of the circle. The top star represents
the North Star. The five star groups represent a
five pointed star. The word "MINNESOTA" is
printed in red letters below the inner circle.
Scenes
from the Minnesota State Seal are displayed
within the inner circle. Shown is a bare-footed
farmer plowing a field. The farmer's axe, gun
and powderhorn rest on a nearby stump. An Indian
rides nearby. The field borders a river with a
waterfall. Perhaps you can find this same field
near St. Anthony's Falls on the Mississippi
River? These scenes are surrounded by
intertwined pink and white lady slippers (the
state flower) and a red ribbon. Printed in gold
letters on the red ribbon are the dates 1819,
the year in which Fort Snelling was established,
1893, the year that the the flag was officially
adopted and "L'ETOILE DU NORD" (Star of the
North), the Minnesota State Motto. Over the seal
in gold letters is the date 1858; the date that
Minnesota was admitted to the union.
If you
want more information on the State Flags of the
United States, you might want to check
How Proudly They Wave: Flags of the Fifty
States by Rita D. Haban. This book is
geared toward kids... and for adults like me who
want to know about the history and design
significance of the flags of all fifty states
but can't find this information in an expensive
encyclopedia. |
Official State Flag of Minnesota
