Fun With Flags! Trivia Quiz

I'm sure you recognized the date on the flag! Delaware was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787. Adopted on July 24, 1913, the flag displays the colors, buff and colonial blue, on George Washington's uniform.

Other symbols found on the flag are also seen on the state seal. The ships on the flag are a tribute to Delaware's long commercial history, while the wheat, ox, corn, and farmer are symbols of its agriculture. Also remembered on the flag is the Revolutionary War citizen-soldier, who played an important role in gaining the "Liberty and Independence" (state motto) of the state.

If you know that Utah is known as the Beehive State, then you recognized its flag! Adopted on March 9, 2024, the colors on the Utah state flag not only honor the U.S. flag, but also represent natural features in Utah. The blue is symbolic of Utah's skies and lakes, while the jagged white stripe represents its snowy mountains. The red is a nod toward Utah's canyons and rock formations.

The beehive in the middle of the flag symbolizes the unity, industry, and prosperity of the people of Utah as they work together and support one another. Utah's five Native Americans nations are honored with the five-pointed star under the flag's beehive.

Texas, of course, is the Lone Star State! The flag, originally adopted on January 25, 1839, represented the Republic of Texas; it is one of the two state flags in the United States that was used by an independent country. When Texas became a state in 1845, an official state flag was not adopted, however, this one continued to be used, and on August 31, 1933, it was officially readopted.

As with many other U.S. state flags, the red, while, and blue on the Texas flag are the same shades found on Old Glory. Texas does have a flag code which stipulates that red is for bravery, white for purity, and blue for loyalty. The star, according to the code, "represents ALL of Texas and stands for our unity as one for God, State, and Country".

If you noticed the big "O" on this flag, you might have decided to match it with the state of Ohio! Called the Ohio Burgee, the swallowtail flag was adopted on May 9, 1902. It is the only state flag in the United States that is not rectangular. Although burgee flags, triangular in form, are typically used for maritime purposes, it is believed that the Ohio Burgee was inspired by cavalry flags used during the Civil War and Spanish-American War.

The Ohio Revised Code specifies that the red and white stripes represent Ohio's roads and waterways, while the blue triangle stands for the state's hills and valleys. It has thirteen stars to honor the original thirteen colonies, and four more to remind us that Ohio was the seventeenth state to join the Union. The "O" stands for Ohio, and also represents the buckeye, as Ohio is known as the Buckeye State.

The flag of New York contains a lot of symbolism, however, you knew it right away if you knew the state motto of New York is "Excelsior"! This is an example of a state flag that uses the design of the state seal. The women on the flag represent Liberty and Justice, while "Excelsior" is translated as meaning "Ever Upward". "E pluribus unum", found below the state motto, is a nod to the motto of the United States.

Adopted April 2, 1901, the shield in the center represents the Hudson River, and the ships symbolize both the domestic and international trade that takes place in New York. The sun is rising over Mount Beacon. Lastly, the bald eagle, commonly seen on state flags, is the national bird of the United States.

The hint for the flag of Minnesota relates to the lighter blue color, which represents the state's water! Remember, Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes! If that wasn't enough, the star is there as a reminder of the North Star, and the dark blue represents the sky.

Adopted on December 19, 2023, this is the fourth state flag used by Minnesota; the other versions featured the state seal, which many believed was too similar to what other states had done and didn't show the best use of vexillology. The flag was designed by a group called the State Emblems Redesign Commission, which representatives from the many groups of people who live in Minnesota today.

You may have recognized the flower on the state flag of Mississippi and know that the state nickname is the Magnolia State! This is the third official state flag flown over Mississippi's capital building, and the first time the single magnolia flower has been shown on the flag. It was adopted on January 11, 2021.

The gold star at the top represents the indigenous people of Mississippi, while the white stars represent the fact that Mississippi was the twentieth state to enter the Union. The motto, "In God We Trust", is a nod to a motto of the United States, which is used on currency.

Hopefully the Zia sacred sun sign led you to New Mexico! The Native American Zia, a Pueblo tribe, lives on a reservation in New Mexico today. Officially adopted on March 15, 1925, the state flag of New Mexico honors both its indigenous and colonial histories.

While most state flags use the color white or blue, gold was chosen in New Mexico because it, along with red, is found on the national flag of Spain; New Mexico was part of the Spanish Empire for more than 200 years. The four groups of four rays from the Zia sun symbol represent, in broad terms, the four directions, seasons, phases in a person's life, and parts of the day.

If you looked at this flag and thought it looks like a medieval banner, the hint hopefully led you to Maryland. Remember, the state was originally a land grant that King Charles I gave to Cecil Calvert, known as Lord Baltimore, in 1632. As such, the state could use Calvert's heraldic banner of arms, inherited from his father, George, as its flag; the black and gold bend dexter was originally used for the flag, although its use was discontinued after the American Revolution. It became popular again during the Civil War, as pro-Union Marylanders adopted the black and gold bend dexter for their flags and uniforms, and those who were pro-Confederacy adopted the red and white part, known as the Crossland banner.

As it is seen today, the flag of Maryland, adopted on March 9, 1904, uses both parts of the Calvert heraldic banner. The black and gold bend dexter was originally award to George Calvert for his part in storming a fort during a battle. The Crossland banner was inherited from his mother, Alicia Crossland, who, as a heraldic heiress, had inherited the banner from her father. Cecil Calvert was able to use both for his banner of arms.

Hawaii uses the other state flag that once flew over an independent country. It was adopted on December 29, 1845, long before Hawaii became the fiftieth state of the United States.

It's the only state flag to feature a foreign flag - the Union Jack - which is reminiscent of Hawaii's ties to the United Kingdom. It is known that King Kamehameha I enjoyed the protection he believed that the UK gave to his land, and, for that reason, kept the Union Jack on his flag.

The exact reason for the choice of colors is unknown; one story is the eight stripes represent the eight major islands of Hawaii's archipelago; the red is believed to symbolize Hawaiian deities, the white represents truth, and the blue stands for the ocean. Another legend is that the colors represent the UK, USA, and France, all countries that played a role in the history of the islands.