Wyoming Flag

The current Wyoming state flag was adopted in 1917. From their induction in the United States union 1890 as 44th state until 1917 the state of Wyoming did not have an official state flag. In 1916 Wyoming wanted to change this fact, so they addressed the Daughters of the American Revolution in Wyoming (DAR) to help with the design of Wyoming’s state flag. The DAR held a competition and the winners design would be chosen to be the state flag of Wyoming. The contest was advertised statewide and 37 entries were submitted. The winner for the contest was Verna Keays. She won 20 Dollars for her design and was also invited to speak at a conference where she was awarded with her prize. From this contest to the state legislature the flag of Wyoming needed to be perfected, a technical description was added and a bill for submission to the state had also to be drafted. After adopting the flag the state printed folders depicting the Wyoming flag on top and facts on the flag of Wyoming as well as its description were put inside. Each schoolchild in Wyoming was handed such a folder in 1917.

Wyoming’s flag has a blue field that is rimmed with a small white band and a red outer wider band. The center of the Wyoming flag adorns Wyoming's state mammal, a bison. The bison is often also called monarch of the plains in Wyoming. The bison is of white color, more an outline or silhouhette of a bison than the animal itself. Almost like a branding the state seal is on the middle part of the bison. Though it was not designed by Verna this way, the Wyoming flag show the bison facing the flagpole. The color of the state flag of Wyoming also represents the colors of the United States flag, red, white and blue. But these colors also represent other values. The red border stands for the Indians that loved Wyoming long before the settlers came as well as for the settlers and pioneers that lost their blood to claim the soil from the Indians. The color of white represents purity and uprightness and blue symbolizes fidelity and justice.

Wyoming flags can be bought at many of the flag stores across the United States as well as with retailers online. Pictures of Wyoming flags can be found on many better history books as well as in museums and on the Internet. Wyoming's flag is proudly displayed in the states capital Cheyenne.