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Flag of Wisconsin

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The state flag of Wisconsin was first adopted in 1863, and was modified in 1979. It is a blue flag charged with the state coat of arms of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin
Flag of Wisconsin
UseCivil and state flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagReverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion2:3
AdoptedMay 1, 1981; 43 years ago (1981-05-01)[1]
DesignA blue field charged with the state coat of arms below the word Wisconsin in white at the top and the year 1848 in white at the bottom.

Flag design

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The state flag flies in front of the state capitol

The flag field is navy blue with the Wisconsin coat of arms in the center, and the words "Wisconsin" in all capital letters above and "1848" below the seal in a bold white font. On the top of the coat of arms, there is a badger, and the state motto "Forward". In the center, on the shield, there is a plow to represent farming, a pick and shovel to represent mining, an arm and hammer representing manufacturing, and an anchor representing navigation. In the center of the shield is the United States coat of arms. The shield is supported by a sailor and a yeoman, both representing labor on land and on water. On the bottom there is a cornucopia, representing prosperity, and there are 13 lead ingots representing both mineral wealth and the original 13 colonies of the United States.

The state flag is officially described by law as:

(a) Relative dimensions of 2 to 3, hoist to fly. (b) A background of royal blue cloth. (c) The state coat of arms, as described under. 1.07, in material of appropriate colors, applied on each side in the center of the field, of such size that, if placed in a circle whose diameter is equal to 50 percent of the hoist, those portions farthest from the center of the field would meet, but not cross, the boundary of the circle. (d) The word “WISCONSIN" in white, capital, condensed Gothic letters, one-eighth of the hoist in height, centered above the coat of arms, midway between the uppermost part of the coat of arms and the top edge of the flag. (e) The year “1848" in white, condensed Gothic numbers, one-eighth of the hoist in height, centered below the coat of arms, midway between the lowermost part of the coat of arms and the bottom edge of the flag.[2]

The North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) conducted a survey in 2001 that ranked Wisconsin's flag as one of the worst in design. Amongst the 72 U.S. state, U.S. territorial and Canadian provincial flags, Wisconsin's ranked 65th (8th worst).[3] NAVA criticized the unoriginality of "[state] seal on blue bed-sheet" design, which is currently used by nearly half of the flags of U.S. states; Wisconsin is one of 22 U.S. states that use a blue flag with the state arms or seal on them.

History

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The flag of Wisconsin was adopted in 1863, following requests from Civil War regiments for battlefield use. The legislature formed a committee to choose the specifications for the flag, which was the state coat of arms centered on a field of dark blue. This design was similar to the ones in use by regiments. In 1913, it was formally added to the Wisconsin Statues, which specified the design of the state flag.[4]

In 1941, Carl R. Eklund reported that he raised the state flag over Antarctica, at the behest of Wisconsin Governor Julius P. Heil, about 500 miles north of the South Pole and 620 miles into a previously unexplored area.[5] In 1958, Eklund flew another flag over Antarctica which he presented for display in a state museum.[6] In 1953, state assemblyman William N. Belter of Wautoma criticized the flag as too costly because of the details.[7]

Astronaut James Lovell, who grew up in Milwaukee, carried Wisconsin flags with him on at least two of his space flights; one aboard Gemini 7 in 1965 and another on Apollo 13.[8][9] The Gemini 7 flag was presented to Governor Warren Knowles in a ceremony at the state capitol the following year, and the Apollo 13 flag was sold at auction in 2021.

In 1973, when the state senate was attempting to add the word Wisconsin to the flag, it was criticized as already too cluttered.[10] In 1975, some state flags were being sold that improperly had the state seal on them instead of the state coat of arms. Wisconsin Secretary of State Douglas J. La Follette noted that the correct state flag did not have the banner of thirteen stars at the bottom.[11]

In order to distinguish it from the many other blue U.S. state flags, Wisconsin's flag was modified in 1979 to add "Wisconsin" and "1848", the year Wisconsin was admitted to the Union.[12][13] The legislation specified that the new design was to take effect on May 1, 1981, and all Wisconsin state flags manufactured after that date were required to use the modified design.[1]

  •  
      State flag from 1866 to 1913
  •  
      State flag from 1913 to 1981
  •  
      Unofficial 1913 to 1981 variant featuring a banner of stars on the bottom.
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      Unofficial 1913 to 1981 variant featuring the coat of arms on a white disc.
  •  
      Unofficial 1975 variant featuring more of the state seal.
  •  
    Seal of Wisconsin with banner of stars
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    Wisconsin coat of arms without scroll

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b State of Wisconsin. "286". Section: 1.08: State flag. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2015. The department of administration shall ensure that all official state flags that are manufactured on or after May 1, 1981 conform to the requirements of this section. State flags manufactured before May 1, 1981 may continue to be used as state flags. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  2. ^ "Wisconsin Legislature: 1.08(1)". docs.legis.wisconsin.gov. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  3. ^ "2001 State/Provincial Flag Survey - NAVA.org" (PDF). nava.org.
  4. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (2007). "Wisconsin Blue Book 2007-2008" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  5. ^ "Antarctic Explorer Returns to State; Reports to Heil". Milwaukee Sentinel. August 31, 1941. Retrieved August 2, 2014.[dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Badger Flag back Home". Milwaukee Sentinel. June 3, 1958. Retrieved August 2, 2014.[dead link‍]
  7. ^ "New State Flag is Urged; Present One 'Too Costly'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. July 29, 1973. Retrieved August 2, 2014.[dead link‍]
  8. ^ Adams, Barry (18 December 2016). "Jim Lovell returns to Madison where he washed dishes, cared for lab rats and began heroic career". Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Apollo 13 Flown Wisconsin State Flag Directly from the Personal Collection of Mission Commander James Lovell". Heritage Auctions. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  10. ^ "On Wisconsin, our cluttered state flag needs to be simplified". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. July 29, 1973. Retrieved August 2, 2014.[dead link‍]
  11. ^ "Flag Flap; If Seal's on Your Flag, It's Wrong". The Milwaukee Journal. July 10, 1975. Retrieved August 3, 2014.[dead link‍]
  12. ^ "Wisconsin State Flag". eekwi.org. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  13. ^ "Wisconsin Legislature: 1979". Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
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