Flag of New Hampshire
The New Hampshire flag shows the state seal on a dark blue field: the ship Raleigh on the stocks, a granite boulder and a rising sun, framed by a laurel wreath and nine stars. The design was fixed in law in 1931.
What the New Hampshire state flag looks like
The state flag of New Hampshire is a dark blue rectangle with a round seal in the center. The seal is drawn in gold and other natural colors, and a wreath of laurel leaves encircles it. Nine stars are set around the wreath.
Inside the seal are these elements:
- A wooden frigate on the stocks, meaning a ship still under construction.
- A large granite boulder in the foreground.
- A rising sun behind the ship, and a strip of land with trees.
- A border with the words Seal of the State of New Hampshire and the date 1776.
The flag is a standard 3:2 rectangle.
New Hampshire flag meaning and symbolism
The ship on the stocks is the frigate Raleigh, built in Portsmouth in 1776 for the Continental Navy. It shows the state's role in shipbuilding and in the American Revolution. The granite boulder refers to New Hampshire's nickname, the Granite State, and the rising sun is often read as a symbol of a new nation.
The date 1776 recalls the year New Hampshire adopted its own constitution, one of the first among the colonies. The nine stars stand for New Hampshire's place as the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, in 1788, which made the document law. The laurel wreath is a classical symbol of honor and victory. Note that the state motto, Live Free or Die, does not appear on the flag.
History of the New Hampshire flag
New Hampshire regiments carried their own banners during the Revolution and the Civil War. The state first set an official flag in 1909, using the state seal on a blue field. A law of 1931 set the present design, with the seal surrounded by a wreath of laurel and nine stars.
The flag has not been changed since 1931. Like many of its neighbors, it is a "seal on blue" design. You can compare it with Massachusetts and New Jersey, or see the whole collection of U.S. state flags.
Interesting facts about the New Hampshire flag
- The frigate on the flag is a real ship that was built in New Hampshire in 1776.
- During a naval chaplain's service at sea, the church pennant is flown above the U.S. flag. It is the only flag that may be flown above it.
New Hampshire flag colors
#002A86RGB
0, 42, 134CMYK
100, 69, 0, 47#EFAE0ERGB
239, 174, 14CMYK
0, 27, 94, 6#746A4CRGB
116, 106, 76CMYK
0, 9, 34, 55#2B4171RGB
43, 65, 113CMYK
62, 42, 0, 56New Hampshire flag facts
| Adopted | 1931 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Symbols | Seal of New Hampshire |
| State capital | Concord |
| State motto | Live Free or Die |
| Population | 1,377,529 |
New Hampshire state flag FAQ
What is the boat on the New Hampshire flag?
It is the frigate Raleigh, one of the first warships built for the Continental Navy. She was launched at Portsmouth in 1776 and appears on the stocks in the state seal.
What does the New Hampshire flag represent?
It represents the state's history in shipbuilding and the Revolution, its granite landscape, and its role as the ninth state to ratify the Constitution.
Why are there nine stars on the New Hampshire flag?
The nine stars stand for New Hampshire being the ninth state to ratify the Constitution in 1788.
What is the only flag that can fly above the US flag?
The Navy church pennant, which is flown above the national flag during religious services held by naval chaplains on ships.
What does the New Hampshire seal look like?
It shows the Raleigh on the stocks, a granite boulder and a rising sun, with the words Seal of the State of New Hampshire and the date 1776 around the edge.
