Illinois State Flags

What is the Design of the Illinois State Flag?

The Illinois flag is a simple representation of the Great Seal of Illinois against a white background. The current flag depicts the Great Seal of Illinois, which was originally designed in 1819 and emulated the Great Seal of the United States. In the eagle's beak there is a banner with the state motto, "State Sovereignty, National Union." The dates on the seal, 1818 and 1868, represent the year Illinois became a state and the year in which the Great Seal was redesigned by Sharon Tyndale.

The 7 main colors in the Illinois flag are White, Yellow Metal, Shiraz, Broom, Nobel, Black, and Midnight Blue. The Illinois flag width is 1.7 times the height. Standard flag size is 3 feet x 5.1 feet.

When was the Illinois State Flag Adopted?

In 1913, five years prior to the centennial of statehood, Wallace Rice submitted a proposal for an Illinois state flag. It had horizontal white-blue-white stripes with 20 blue stars and one large white star, representing Illinois’s position as the 21st state to join the Union.

Mrs. Ella Park Lawrence, of Galesburg, was elected Illinois State Regent of the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) in 1911. On April 1, 1914, Lawrence sent a letter to every Illinois chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution announcing a contest to design an Illinois state flag, with the winner receiving a prize of $25. Thirty-five designs were submitted in response to this contest, and Miss Lucy Derwent's design was selected. The contest was judged by a panel chaired by Lewis Stevenson, Illinois Secretary of State. The flag became the official state banner on July 6, 1915, following its passage in the Illinois State House and Senate.

In the 1960s, Chief Petty Officer Bruce McDaniel petitioned to have the name of the state added to the flag. The addition to the flag was signed into law on September 17, 1969 - the word "ILLINOIS" was added, as well as the sun on Lake Michigan's horizon in the background. A new flag was designed by Mrs. Sanford Hutchinson and became the official flag on July 1, 1970.

What does the Illinois State Flag Represent?

The bald eagle, which is a very well-known symbol of the United States, holds onto a streamer displaying the state’s motto ‘national union, state sovereignty’. The meaning of these words is clear; Illinois governs itself but under the government of the United States. The shield contains thirteen bars and thirteen stars which as with many state flags represents the original thirteen colonies. Interestingly Illinois is not one of the thirteen original colonies, but rather joined in 1818 becoming the 21st state.

Beneath the bald eagles talon is a rock on which it stands that bears the date of Illinois being admitted to the union (1818) and the date of the state seal (1868). The ground around the boulder symbolizes the rich soil of this prairie state. A blazing sun is seen rising over an expanse of water in the background and though these have no noted symbolic reason it could be they represent the hot and humid climate of Illinois and its vast array of rivers. The ground around the boulder symbolizes the rich soil of this prairie state.

Displaying the Illinois State Flag?

Fact 1: It may be flown every day in the 21st state when weather permits.

Fact 2: It may be flown from sunrise until sunset. If it is displayed outdoors in the "Prairie State", it should be flown from a flagpole.

Fact 3: The Illinois ensign may be flown at night when properly lighted.

Fact 4: The flagpole may be at least two and one-half times as long as the Illinois flag.

Illinois Centennial State Flag?

Illinois celebrated its 100th birthday in 1918 as the nation was involved in World War I. Along with being the largest foreign war this nation had fought to date, it also was very controversial on the home front. And, although a Centennial Commission was created in 1913, a full five years before the centennial, it did not fully organize until January 1916 due to a scandal elsewhere in state government. Jessie Palmer Weber, the head librarian for the Illinois State Historical Library and the daughter of a former governor, was selected to serve as secretary of the 15 member commission. The commission’s major role was to help promote and coordinate celebrations throughout the state.

A centennial flag for the state’s first 100 years of statehood was designed in 2018. This flag features 20 stars representing the northern and southern states that were already designated at the time of Illinois’’ statehood. A larger white star is also on the flag and represents the state of Illinois. For Illinois's first 100 years of statehood in 1918, Wallace Rice, who designed Chicago's flag, designed a centennial flag for the state. It had three horizontal bands of equal width alternating white, blue, white. It was charged with 21 stars along the edge of the hoist.

The Illinois state centennial commission in June 25, 1917 wanted to use a state banner or flag commemorating the centennial anniversary of the admission of the state of Illinois into the federal union. The banner or pennant shall consist of three horizontal stripes in proper proportion as to length and width, the upper and the lower stripes being white in color and the middle stripe national blue in color, the stripes being of such dimensions that they will appear of equal width.