Why does the Washington state flag have George Washington on it?

The state is named for him, and the seal that sits in the center of the flag carries his portrait. It was chosen in 1889 when Washington joined the Union.

Who is the only president on a state flag?

George Washington is the only president shown on a U.S. state flag, on the flag of Washington State.

Is Washington state getting a new flag?

No change has been adopted. The 1923 flag is still the official state flag, although designers and residents have sometimes suggested a simpler one.

What is the only flag that can fly above the US flag?

Under the U.S. Flag Code, no state flag is flown above the national flag. The usual exceptions are the United Nations flag at its headquarters and the church pennant during religious services at sea.

What color is the Washington state flag?

The field is dark green, with a gold-edged blue seal at the center. Green is a nod to the Evergreen State.

Washington State Flag: George Washington Seal & History

The Washington state flag is a dark green field with the state seal in the center, showing a portrait of George Washington. It is the only U.S. state flag that features a president, and it is often edged with gold fringe.

What the Washington state flag looks like

The flag of Washington is a deep green rectangle with the state seal in the center. The seal is a round disc with a dark blue background and a gold border. Inside is a portrait of George Washington, based on the well-known painting by Gilbert Stuart, in a dark coat with white hair. Around the edge, gold letters read The Seal of the State of Washington and the date 1889.

Many flags are finished with gold fringe around the edge. The proportions are close to 5:3. Washington is also one of very few state flags that is green, and it is the only one with a president's face. For others, see the full list of U.S. state flags.

Washington state flag meaning and symbolism

The seal honors George Washington, the first president of the United States, for whom the state is named. Putting his portrait on the flag stresses the connection of the state to the nation. Washington is the only state named for a president, and the state is also the only one with a portrait of one on its banner.

The green field reflects the forests and the state nickname, the Evergreen State. The gold of the lettering and the fringe adds a formal touch. Neither the colors nor the portrait are tied to a specific story beyond this, so the flag is best read as a tribute to the first president and to the green landscape of the Pacific Northwest.

History of the Washington state flag

Washington became the 42nd state in 1889. The seal was designed that year by Charles Talcott, a jeweler from Olympia. For about thirty years the state had no official banner. Early versions of a green flag with the seal were used from the 1910s, including ones made by groups of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The legislature officially adopted the current flag on March 5, 1923. It has not been redesigned since then. Over the years there have been occasional proposals to make it simpler, mostly because the fine detail of the portrait is hard to see from a distance, but the design remains in place. You can also compare it to the flag of the United States.