Flag of Washington facts for kids
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| Use | Civil and state flag  |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 1:1.6 (5:8) |
| Adopted | March 5, 1923 (standardized in 1967) |
| Design | The state seal sized at 1/3 the length of the flag centered on a field of dark green. |
The flag of Washington is the official flag for the U.S. state of Washington. It has a dark green background. In the middle, you'll see the state seal. This seal shows a picture of George Washington, who the state is named after. Sometimes, the flag has a gold border called a fringe, but this is optional.
This flag is special for a few reasons:
- It's the only U.S. state flag that is dark green.
- It's the only state flag that shows a picture of an American president.
The Secretary of State is in charge of rules for the flag. They also approve copies of the flag that are sold and make sure they meet certain standards.
Washington became a state in 1889, but it didn't have an official flag right away. The flag we see today was officially chosen on March 5, 1923. It has been a symbol of Washington ever since. A group called the Daughters of the American Revolution helped design the flag in 1915. They worked hard to get the Washington State Legislature to approve it in the early 1920s. Over the years, the flag has had small updates. For example, its colors were made standard in 1955, and the seal was updated in 1967.
Contents
History of the Washington State Flag
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The idea for Washington's state flag started with a group called the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). This group helps preserve American history.
In 1914, the national DAR organization asked each state to send its flag to be displayed in Washington, D.C. When the Washington state DAR looked in Olympia, they realized there was no official state flag! So, a committee from the DAR, led by S.J. Chadwick, decided to design one.
They chose a green background to represent Washington as the "Evergreen State." On this green background, they placed the state seal. This flag was first used in Washington, D.C., and then brought back to Washington state in 1916. It was displayed at the DAR's yearly meeting.
In 1923, the state's lawmakers, the Legislature and Senate, passed a bill to make this design the official flag of Washington. The Governor did not need to sign it for it to become law.
Later, in 1929, the DAR gave a state flag to Governor Roland H. Hartley. He accepted it for the state. This flag can still be seen in the official reception room at the Capitol building.
How the Flag is Made and Copied
The Washington state flag is known for being the most expensive state flag to make in the United States. This is because the state seal must be sewn onto both sides of the flag.
If someone wants to make copies of the Washington state flag, they need to send two examples of their flag to the Washington Secretary of State. If the Secretary of State approves the design, they will send one copy back to the maker with an "approved" mark. They will keep the other copy for their records.
State law (RCW 1.20.010) describes the flag in detail. It says the flag must be made of dark green silk or bunting. The state seal should be in the center, either sewn, printed, painted, or stamped. The edges of the flag can have a gold or yellow fringe, but it's not required. The size of the flag can be different depending on where it's used.
In 2001, a group called the North American Vexillological Association studied the designs of 72 flags. These included flags from U.S. states, U.S. territories, and Canadian provinces. The survey found that Washington's flag was ranked 47th out of 72.
Images for kids
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Flag of Washington prior to the 1967 adoption of a new seal and standardization
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The state flag (center) flying at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia, Washington
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See also
In Spanish: Bandera de Washington para niños
