Idaho

flag of Idaho
The Gem State
Admitted July 3, 1890

The Idaho state flag was first flown by the First Idaho Infantry during the Spanish-American War. Like many other infantries, including Montana, this flag featured the state seal on a field of blue.

Idaho’s seal is unique as the only state seal designed by a woman. Emma Edwards Green, a Boise artist, won the state seal design contest in 1891.

When it came time to adopt a state flag, the infantry flag was used. A banner reading “State of Idaho” was added below the seal.

The flag was officially adopted March 15, 1927.

In 1957, Green’s seal design was updated and repainted by artist Paul B. Evans.

Composition

The Idaho flag features a field of blue charged with the state seal, in full color, centered.

Below the seal is a banner of gold and red with the words ”State of Idaho” inscribed.

In the 2001 North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) flag survey of United States and Canada flags, the flag of Idaho was ranked 64th out of 72.

flag of Idaho

Iconography

  • the goddess Justice holding scales

    Justice

    the goddess Justice, justice and equality under the law, women’s suffrage

  • a cap on the end of a stick

    phrygian cap

    liberty

  • a miner with pickax and shovel

    miner

    mining industry

  • shield

    shield

    protection through unity

  • tall flowers

    wild syringa

    state flower, regional flora

  • cornucopias filled with food, sheaves of wheat

    cornucopia & wheat

    farming, agriculture

  • mountains, a river, trees, and a farmer plowing a field

    nature

    natural resources, lumber, the Shoshone River

  • elk head

    elk

    game law, regional fauna

  • Esto Perpetua, on a banner

    motto

    an everlasting future, Let It Be Perpetual

Colors

The Idaho flag features a field of blue, with supporting colors within the state seal.

Idaho statute does not provide Cable or Pantone values for the colors of the flag.The hex values here are approximations.
Blue
#003776
White
#ffffff
Red
#ef1439
Yellow
#ffe835
Gold
#ffb32b
Orange
#ff9120
Brown
#c5792c
Tan
#e8daad
Green
#36e218
Light Blue
#86e2ff
Purple
#913cff

Construction

Idaho statute specifies the proportion and spacing for the flag’s visual elements in feet and inches.

The flag should have a hoist of 4 feet, 4 inches and a fly of 5 feet, 6 inches.

The seal should be 21 inches in diameter.

The banner inscribed “The State of Idaho” should be 3 inches tall by 29 inches wide, placed 8.5 inches from the bottom edge. The letters should be 2 inches tall.

construction sheet for the flag of Idaho

Sources