Composition
The Missouri state flag is a horizontal tricolor of red, white, and blue.
At the center, the state coat of arms is charged, surrounded by a circular band of blue emblazoned with 24 white five-pointed stars.
Missouri
Like many other state flags, the Missouri flag begins with the Daughters of the American Revolution. They appointed Mary Elizabeth Oliver to lead a committee and in 1908 she brought her design to the state capitol.
Her flag competed against another design by Dr. G.H. Holcomb, but ultimately it was chosen as the first (and so far, only) Missouri state flag.
It was officially adopted March 22, 1913.
Iconography
24 stars
the states of the Union, including Missouri
24 more stars
Missouri as the 24th state
bears
strength, courage
knight & shield
strength and independence of the state, strength of the Union
crescent
the immense potential for the future
eagle
freedom, strength, peace, the Union
motto
The Welfare of the People Shall Be the Supreme Law
1820
the Missouri Compromise
Coat of Arms
The Missouri coat of arms and state seal have been relatively unchanged since they were designed in 1822 by Judge Robert William Wells.
Colors
The colors of the Missouri flag do have specific meaning. The red represents valor, white represents purity, and blue represents vigilance, permanency, and justice.
According to Missouri law and the Office of the Secretary of State, Missouri does not provide official Cable or Pantone values for the colors of the flag.The hex values here are approximations.
Red
#ab0635
White
#ffffff
Blue
#004b8d
Gold
#c3a204
Brown
#9a4a23
Green
#228a43
Light blue
#0083a9
Construction
The Missouri flag has a proportion of 7:12.
The width of the blue band around the center circle of the seal is 1/14 the width of the hoist.
The diameter of the circle is 1/3 the length of the fly.
Sources
- Howe, Randy. Flags of the Fifty States: Their Colorful Histories and Significance. Guilford: The Globe Pequot Press, 2002. Print.
- Mitchell, Henry. The State Arms of the Union. Boston: L. Prang & Co, 1876.
- Missouri Revised Statutes. Chapter 10 State Emblems. Section § 10.020 Flag, official--design of--original design--where kept.
- Reference Staff. Missouri State Archives, personal communication, August 2, 2019.
- 1913, Missouri Session Laws
- Missouri Secretary of State
- Flag of Missouri - Wikipedia