Flag of Wisconsin facts for kids
 |
|
| Use | Civil and state flag  |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adopted | May 1, 1981 |
| Design | Blue flag charged with the Wisconsin coat of arms. |
The flag of Wisconsin is the official flag for the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It was first chosen in 1863. Later, it was updated in 1979. The flag is blue and features the state coat of arms of Wisconsin.
Contents
How the Flag Changed Over Time
.png)
.svg)
Early Design (1860s)
The flag was first designed in 1866. This happened because Wisconsin's military groups wanted a special flag for battles. In 1913, state laws officially described what the flag should look like.
Antarctic Adventures (1940s)
In 1941, a person named Carl R. Eklund shared an exciting story. He said he raised the Wisconsin state flag in Antarctica. This was at the request of Wisconsin's Governor, Julius P. Heil. Eklund placed the flag far into an unexplored area. In 1958, he flew another flag over Antarctica. He later gave this flag to a state museum.
Debates and Changes (1950s-1970s)
In 1953, a state lawmaker named William N. Belter thought the flag was too expensive to make. He said this was because of all its small details.
By 1973, there was talk about adding the word "Wisconsin" to the flag. However, some people felt the flag already had too many things on it.
In 1975, some flags being sold were incorrect. They had the state seal instead of the state coat of arms. Douglas J. La Follette, Wisconsin's Secretary of State, pointed out the mistake. He noted that the correct flag did not have a banner of thirteen stars at the bottom.
Making it Unique (1980s)
Many U.S. states have blue flags. To help Wisconsin's flag stand out, it was changed in 1979. The words "Wisconsin" and "1848" were added. The year 1848 is when Wisconsin joined the Union. All new Wisconsin flags made after May 1, 1981, had to use this new design.
How Flags are Ranked (2000s)
In 2001, a group called the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) did a survey. They ranked 72 flags from U.S. states and Canadian provinces. Wisconsin's flag was ranked 65th.
NAVA explained that many U.S. states use blue flags, making them hard to tell apart. Flags with words and complex designs usually ranked lower. NAVA preferred flags that were strong, simple, and easy to recognize. They called flags with a seal on a plain background "seal-on-a-bedsheet" flags, and these ranked the lowest.
Images for kids
-
The state flag flies in front of the state capitol
-
State flag from 1866 to 1913
.png)
See also
In Spanish: Bandera de Wisconsin para niños
