Oregonian takes on the Oregon state flag
The Oregonian has embarked on an interesting crusade: It wants to change the state flag.
The Portland-based Oregonian is holding a contest to solicit designs for a new flag. The contest is, thus far, unsanctioned by state officials. But hey, several outstanding state flags were the results of design-a-flag contests, so you never know. More about those in a moment.
The Oregonian’s Michael Milstein writes:
Our state turns 150 next year: The perfect occasion for Oregonians to fashion a flag as distinctive as the state itself.
Picture the eye-catching symbolism of the great U.S. flag that instantly stands out from miles away. Now picture Oregon’s: not so bad up close, but tough to decipher or distinguish at any distance.
Milstein points out something I didn’t know: Oregon flags cost a bit more than other state flags because they have a two-sided design. Here’s the front:
And here’s the back:
No, seriously. That’s the back. Honest!
Milstein writes;
The front carries the state seal, which looks crisp on stationery, but not on a flag. It’s almost impossible to interpret from afar and tough to tell apart from Wisconsin’s, Vermont’s or a bunch of others that also have a state seal stamped on a blue background.
“It’s kind of boring,” says Brenda Dirks of Uncle Sam’s Flag Shop in Ontario, which sells 50 or so Oregon state flags each year.
The back holds a gold-colored beaver, which many people, including Dirks, like pretty well. But it’s so small and nondescript it looks from below like a blob of butterscotch pudding.
Milstein makes a great point. How many state flags consist of a state seal on a blue background? The answer: Too damn many.
So the Oregonian is holding a contest. Submit a single-sided flag in 3×5 proportion — either as a hard copy or via e-mail as a jpeg — by Nov. 21. A panel of “citizens and designers” will select the best ten and then the paper will ask readers to vote for their favorite. If you’re an Oregon resident and would like to enter, find instructions, rules and tips here.
Naturally, we can’t let a topic like this go by without offering up our own list of…
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Top 10 Coolest State Flag Designs
Looking at all the state flags is a bit like looking at the U.S. front pages at the Newseum — too damn many of them look the same. For that reason, we’re grading primarly on distinctiveness, and then asthetics and symbolism.
10. Tennessee
Frankly, any flag that doesn’t feature the state seal on a blue background is likely to make our list. The three stars suggest the U.S. flag, but are arranged in a freshly different way. The stripe down the right helps the flag’s appearance on the pole when the wind’s not blowing.
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9. Hawaii
There’s a bit of an Angliophile in us, so this flag featuring the U.K. Union Jack grabs our attention. The eight stripes represent the eight primary islands that make up the Hawaiian chain. The white-red-blue stripe pattern strikes us as different. It’s hard to mistake this for any other state flag. That’s true for most on this list.
Commissioned in 1816 by Kamehameha, the king of Hawaii — this flag is also one of the older ones on this list. Not bad for the newest state in the U.S. (Admitted in 1959, since you asked).
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8. Maryland
Another flag with English overtones. The black-and-gold pattern is part of the family crest of Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore. The red-and-white bits are from the Crossland family — Cecil’s mom’s side — and were used by secessionists during the Civil War. This flag was an attempt to reconcile the two sides in this border state that never seceeded.
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7. Colorado
The blue represents the sky, the white represents snow-covered peaks and the gold represents the rich minerals in the state. The red? It represents “the reddish Colorado river.” Seriously.
Besides that bit, it all makes sense and it looks good, too.
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6. California
Does a bear you-know-what in the woods? Not if he’s doing his duty on the state flag instead. This very distinctive flag was first used in 1846 but not adopted as California’s flag until 1916.
Sadly, this particular bear is the California grizzly, extinct since 1911. The last one is stuffed and mounted at San Francisco’s Golden Gate park.
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5. Texas
What can be said about the flag of the Lone Star state? It’s simple, distinct and striking. If Lee Abrams redesigned the U.S. flag, it’d probably look a lot like this.
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4. South Carolina
I have a decal of this flag on the back of my car. Folks are always asking me what it is.
The tree honors Fort Moultrie, which guarded the mouth of Charleston harbor during the Revolutionary War. Fort Sumter wasn’t built until right before the Civil War. Cannonballs fired from British ships bounced off the fort, which was built out of spongy Palmetto tree logs. This amazed both the British as well as the Carolinians inside the fort, who expected to be toast.
The crescent moon does not represent an outhouse. It was a symbol of the city of Charleston. Revolutionary soldiers in South Carolina wore metal crescent badges on their hats.
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3. Arizona
A really cool design and a really cool color scheme. The red-and-gold represents 16th-century Spanish explorers; the rays themselves represent the state’s 13 original counties. The blue represents Liberty. The star represents copper mining, which was a huge industry in Arizona.
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2. New Mexico
Another flag that features red-and-gold to honor Spanish conquistadors.
The symbol in the center, however, is sacred to the Zia, the Native American tribe that still lives in the state. Among other things, it represents friendship among united cultures. You can’t beat that sentiment.
This flag was adopted after the Daughters of the American Revolution held a design-a-flag contest in 1920. The winner was an archaeologist, Dr. Henry Jones, Jr.
Just kidding. Actually, it was Dr. Harry Mera of Santa Fe.
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1. Alaska
A striking, simple and distinctive flag. The north star figures prominently in Alaskan culture, as well as its night sky.
This flag, too, was designed as part of a a contest. A Bennie Benson, a Native American from Seward — Hey, you can almost see Russia from there! — won a scholarship and a watch for his winning entry in 1926.
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And there you have it: Our Top 10 Coolest State Flags.
What do you think? Want to make a case for another flag? Hey, anything to keep from working for another 10 or 15 minutes, right? Let us know.
October 24th, 2008 at 11:00 am
No love for my native Ohio? It’s unique, at least. And totally non-conform (would you expect anything less of a state that kept sending Jim Traficant to D.C.?) as “it is the only American state flag that is non-rectangular.”
“The large blue triangle represents Ohio’s hills and valleys, and the stripes represent roads and waterways. The seventeen stars symbolize that Ohio was the 17th state admitted to the union. The white circle with its red center not only represents the first letter of the state name, but also its nickname, “the Buckeye State.”
My favorite state flag? Gotta be Washington. Great colors and George is looking to the left … away from Ohio.
October 24th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I’m rather fond of my home state’s flag. While Kentucky’s flag is not the best designed one, I really like our state motto “United we stand, divided we fall” embroidered on it. I found out this humorous tidbit about the design of the state seal, Which is the centerpiece of the flag, “Other versions of the seal include that of one man in breeches and another in a frock coat. Rather than embracing, they clasp hands in an awkward stance. Some historians/humorists attribute this version to the rumor that all Kentuckians, at the time, drank excessively, and that these two men found it necessary to support each other in their effort to stand: “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.” :D
October 24th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
As a Californian who went to the Univ. of Oregon, and also a Vexilologist (flag geek) I have to agree that Oregon needs a more interesting flag. Most flags were afterthoughts, so they just slapped a seal on the blue field. Many of those types were variations of military flags, which can be very complicated.
As an Oregon Duck I say ban the Beaver (eventhough Oregon is the “Beaver State”)
The reader comments part of that Oregonian story is funnier than the story. It is amaxing how enflamed/uninformed people can get over a simple flag. They say that it is a waste of time/money, but their furvor betrays that it it truly is very important.
If we based the election on the candidate’s state flags, the republicans would win hands down. But Chicago has a nice city flag…..
October 24th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Excellent post, Charles! Having grown up next to the Colorado River, I can attest that it really IS red… just not quite that bright red :).
October 24th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Hey Charles, what’s up with the scary red star in California’s flag? (Which is my favorite on the list, btw)
October 24th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Is the red star scary, Billy? Why? You have a phobia of Texaco gas stations or something? :)
It’s reportedly in honor of the Republic of Texas, which had fought for its own independence from Mexico a decade or so before. (Texas: 1835-36, California 1846).
October 24th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Hey, It may not be a state, but I must say what a kicking flag Chicago has.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Municipal_Flag_of_Chicago.svg/720px-Municipal_Flag_of_Chicago.svg.png
I like to point it out to visitors who have no idea whose flag it is until I tell them.
October 24th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Good point, Robb. Not only does Chicago have a cool — and distinctive — city flag, Washington D.C. does as well.
October 24th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
As for the California flag star …its all us liberal “socialists” donca know! Especially since we are “un-American” according to a certain VP nominee, who will get very few votes in this pinko state of mine.
Seriously, I believe it shares a common heritage with the Texas flag, since both Texas and California considered themselves separate republics after independence from Mexico and beofre USA statehood.
Regarding the Chicago flag, I have heard rumor that many want to add a fifth red star if they get the olympics? Since the stars stand for big events in the city, that makes sense.
Nice to see so many flag fans in this profession. I guess it goes with the graphic/design nature of our field.
October 24th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
With respect to a redesigned Oregon flag. I would like to see a couple of trucker mudflap babes worked into the graphic scheme.
October 24th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Hey Robb
Chicago has a nice simple flag, but look at the flag of Columbus, IN. A great example of flag by committee, and what not to do:
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/u/us-incol.gif
October 24th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Hey Charles, remember the BBQ joint we ate in in Dallas. They had the Texas flag on everything.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Tim writes:
> I would like to see a couple of trucker mudflap
> babes worked into the graphic scheme.
Oh, I can definitely see that in South Carolina or Georgia. But Oregon? Are they a bit on the redneck side up there, too? Never been there…
Steve writes:
> remember the BBQ joint we ate in in Dallas.
> They had the Texas flag on everything.
That’s right! I loved that place! I wish I had taken a picture of that place.
Dennis writes:
> A great example of flag by committee, and
> what not to do:
> http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/u/us-incol.gif
Oh, Jesus, Dennis. I just ate!
October 25th, 2008 at 2:18 am
I concur. South Carolina’s flag rocks. I always thought California’s was a little dissident: the California Republic. Yeah, with a GDP bigger than most countries.
October 25th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
As for the rednecks in Oregon…..Yes, Oregon is a real odd dicodomy. It is probably one of the most liberal states in the Union, if you look at Eugene, Salem and Portland, which are in the western valley half (more in common with Calif. and Seattle). The eastern desert half, over the Cascade mountains, has more in common with Idaho, Nevada and Utah. It is like a microcosm of the whole country: Blue in the college towns and cities, and red in the farmland.
October 25th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
I’m with Tony. There should be some love for the Ohio Burgee.
Yes, the state flag of Ohio is called the Burgee.
October 25th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Also, if we want to look at city flags, here’s a fine specimen. The flag of the City of Pittsburgh:
http://www.crwflags.com/art/states/pa-pitt.gif
The coat of arms is that of William Pitt. Sorry, don’t have any more history than that.
October 26th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I agree about Ohio’s burgee. It is unique and it still retains the colors and symbols of the United States.
My favorite is the “Don’t tread on me” flag carried in the revolutionary war.
October 26th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
No lovin for my native Florida flag? White background, red cross, seal with flower-bearing Seminole woman on the shore …
Here in Connecticut, which has a boring and very hard to decipher seal in the middle, the second-most popular flag (or at least the logo from it) has got to be South Carolina. I see the tree-and-moon symbol everywhere. It’s as if people are given the sticker as a going-away gift when the move elsewhere.
October 27th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Scott, Florida’s flag probably gets some scorn because it’s reminiscent of the Confederate battle flag.
The seal in the middle gets more difficult to read the further away you are from it, which is why the 10 flags that you see above (and I’d add Ohio’s) are named — simple design, easily recognizable.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Aw, Doug. Don’t be such a knee-jerk, NIMBY lib. (imagine goofy grin icon here) Florida’s flag rules!
October 28th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I grew up in Florida and never once thought (or was taught) that the flag bore reminders to the Confederate flag. Maybe Alabama’s, which has a big red X, but never the Confederacy
November 1st, 2008 at 6:40 pm
What happened? I get censored for making fun of libs in a little jab at Doug?
November 1st, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Of course not, Scott. I simply forgot to approve your comment. I was busy this week.
It helps if you don’t post under a false name or initials. I can track down the problem easier if I know what you’re talking about.
What I don’t approve: Abusive language and comments made by someone who didn’t tell me who they were.
March 25th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Charles–
Thanks for the cogent commentary.
If you haven’t seen it already, you will be gratified to see how your personal choices for best state flags align with a consensus view:
http://www.nava.org/Flag%20Design/State&Provincial%20Survey%202001/surveyresults.htm
These, in turn, align with “Good Flag, Bad Flag”:
http://www.nava.org/Flag%20Design/GFBF/GFBF_Final_Web.pdf
Keep up the good work.
Ted Kaye, NAVA member.