Flag of Arkansas facts for kids
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| Use | Civil and state flag  |
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| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adopted | February 26, 1913 (modifications in 1923, 1924, and 2011) |
| Design | A rectangular field of red, on which is placed a large white diamond, bordered by a wide band of blue. Across the diamond is the word 'Arkansas' and four blue stars, one above, three below the word. On the blue band are placed 25 stars. |
| Designed by | Willie K. Hocker |
The flag of Arkansas is a special symbol for the state. It has a bright red background with a large white diamond shape in the middle. This diamond has a wide blue border. Inside the white diamond, you'll see the word "ARKANSAS" written in blue. There are also four blue stars: one above the word and three below it.
Around the blue border of the diamond, there are 25 small white stars. The flag was designed by Willie K. Hocker. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Pine Bluff.
Contents
History of the Arkansas Flag
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Around 1912, a group called the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Pine Bluff wanted to give a state flag to a new battleship, the USS Arkansas. They found out that Arkansas didn't have an official state flag yet!
So, the DAR group decided to hold a contest to design one. Willie K. Hocker, who was also a member of the Pine Bluff DAR, won the contest. Her design was very similar to the flag we see today.
Early Designs and Changes
Originally, Hocker's design had three blue stars in the middle of the white diamond. It didn't have the word "ARKANSAS" on it. The flag committee, led by Secretary of State Earle Hodges, asked Hocker to add "ARKANSAS." They also asked her to change the stars to one above the word and two below it.
This updated flag was officially adopted by the state government on February 26, 1913.
In 1923, the state government added a fourth star to the flag. This star was meant to represent the Confederate States of America, which Arkansas joined during the American Civil War. At first, this star was placed so there were two stars above the state name and two below. This was to show the Confederacy along with Spain, France, and the United States.
However, this change messed up the original meanings of the three stars. So, in 1924, the state government fixed it. They moved the Confederate star to be above "ARKANSAS." The original three stars were placed below the word, just like they are today. This 1924 design was made into a law in 1987 by Act 116, signed by then-Governor Bill Clinton.
Modern Updates to the Flag
In 2011, another change was made to the flag. Governor Beebe signed Act 1205 into law. This act added more specific details about the flag. It stated that the red and blue colors used on the flag should be "Old Glory Red" and "Old Glory Blue." The law also said that any flags bought by the Secretary of State must be made in the United States.
Symbolism of the Arkansas Flag
The different parts of the Arkansas flag have special meanings.
The Diamond Shape
The large white diamond in the middle of the flag represents Arkansas's unique status. Arkansas is known as "the only diamond-bearing state in the Union." This means it was the only state where diamonds were found and mined. For a long time, Crater of Diamonds State Park was the only diamond mine in North America.
The Stars on the Flag
- The 25 White Stars: The 25 small white stars around the blue border of the diamond show that Arkansas was the 25th state to join the United States.
- The Blue Star Above "ARKANSAS": The single blue star placed above the word "ARKANSAS" represents the Confederate States of America. Arkansas was part of the Confederacy during the Civil War.
- The Three Blue Stars Below "ARKANSAS": The three blue stars below the word "ARKANSAS" have several meanings:
* They represent the three countries that Arkansas has belonged to: Spain, France, and the United States. * They also remind us that the Louisiana Purchase, which brought Arkansas into the U.S., happened in 1803. * Arkansas was the third state formed from the land bought in the Louisiana Purchase, after Louisiana and Missouri.
The law also says that the two outer, upward-pointing stars of these three are "twin stars." They are meant to represent Arkansas and Michigan, which the law claims were admitted as states together on June 15, 1836. However, Michigan actually became a state a bit later, on January 26, 1837.
Salute to the Arkansas Flag
There is a special pledge, or salute, that people can say to the Arkansas flag. The law that describes the flag also includes this text:
"I salute the Arkansas Flag with its diamond and stars. We pledge our loyalty to thee."
Images for kids
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Original two Arkansas State Flags before being sent to undergo restoration in West Virginia in late 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Bandera de Arkansas para niños
