Minnesota Flags

History of the Minnesota Flag
 

Early Military Flags
 

Minnesota fielded 11 infantry regiments during the Civil War, each with its own flag. The American Eagle or the state seal with a scroll was typically displayed on a blue background on the flags of the First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth regiments. Some people have hypothesized that the Amelia Hyde Center's design was influenced by this one.
 

1893 Flag
 

Governor of Minnesota at the time, William Merriam, formed an all-male board to oversee the preparations because Minnesota was sponsoring an exhibit at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. But the so-called "women's work" was taken over by the Women's Auxiliary Board, which established a six-person committee to produce the state flag. 200 entries were submitted to the boards' subsequent flag design competition, which was held. Amelia Hyde Center won the competition, and she was given $15 for her winning entry. The pattern on the center was light blue on one side and white on the other. On a blue background, the state seal was in the center and was around by white moccasin flowers. The seal's motto, L'Étoile du Nord, was written on a scarlet ribbon (French for "The Star of the North"). Around the state seal were dates in gold, including 1819 (the founding of Fort Snelling), 1858 (statehood), and 1893 (the adoption of the flag). Under the state seal, "Minnesota" was written in gold, and 19 gold stars were arranged in clusters to resemble the points of a star, signifying that Minnesota was the 19th state to be admitted after the initial 13 states. Pauline and Thomane Fjelde embroidered the first Minnesota flag on silk, and they were awarded a gold medal for their work. On April 4, 1893, the flag was adopted.
 

1957 Flag
 

In order to reduce manufacturing costs and make the flag more resilient, particularly in strong winds, the flag's design was altered in 1957 for the 1958 state centennial, getting rid of the different-colored sides and replacing them with a royal blue field on both sides. The opportunity was taken to correct a mistake regarding the flowers used on the seal; the 1893 flag displayed a kind of the flower that was not indigenous to the state, rather than the Pink and White Lady's Slipper.
 

1983 Seal Change
 

The state seal was updated in 1983, and the flag was updated to reflect that. Additionally, the royal blue background was changed to a medium blue.
 

Flag Design
 

The rectangular flag has a pattern on a medium blue backdrop. The flag's narrow gold border and gold fringe are described in the official statute; however, they are rarely used. The word MINNESOTA is written at the bottom of a white circle, four groups of four stars and one group of three stars are evenly spaced around the perimeter, and designs from the state seal are located in the center. The North Star is represented by the star at the top. The state flower, the pink-and-white lady's slipper, surrounds the central design. The years 1819 (Fort Snelling's foundation), 1858 (Statehood), and 1893 are also on the border (adoption of first flag).
 

Flag Symbolism
 

In the distance, a Native American on a horse represents Minnesota's Native American heritage. A sunset is the setting sun on the western horizon. The grasslands that encircle much of Minnesota can be seen in the straight horizon line. The Native American is riding his horse in a southerly direction. Tools of daily life are shown by the horse and spear of the native and the ax, rifle, and plow of the pioneer. Only observational contact occurs between the figures. The Native American and farmer's tools stand in for the tools used for work and hunting, respectively, while the stump represents the taming of the land and the significance of the lumber industry to Minnesota in 1858. The Mississippi River and St. Anthony Falls are shown on the updated seal to emphasize their significance for trade, industry, and the establishment of the state. The plow's furrowing of the ground symbolizes the land's subjection to the pioneer. The significance of agriculture to Minnesota and its future is also represented by the plow. The state seal's waterfalls aren't on the original version. On the current seal, the St. Croix, Mississippi, and Lake Superior pine regions, as well as the state tree, are represented by the three pine trees that are beyond the falls.
 

Criticism and Replacement Flag Campaign
 

The Minnesota flag has drawn heavy criticism for its poor design and excessive complexity. Additionally, because it shows a white settler displacing a Native American, it has come under fire for being racist. Bills to create a legislative task group to look into flag adjustments have been introduced multiple times over the course of several decades in the Minnesota Legislature. No modifications to the flag have been made as of February 2022 in response to complaints.
 

2009 NAVA Survey
 

In a 2001 online poll by the North American Vexillological Association, the Minnesotan flag was voted as one of the 10 worst flag designs. 100 NAVA members and 300 members of the general public participated in the survey. On a scale of 1 to 10, Minnesota scored a score of 3.13, which was on pace with other flags that had the state seal on a blue backdrop but were rated very negatively.
 

North Star Flag
 

Vexillologists Lee Herold and William Becker suggested the North Star Flag as an alternative to the Minnesota state flag in 1989. The pattern comprises of green and white wavy horizontal stripes on a blue background with a yellow five-pointed star. The blue background depicts Minnesota's lakes and rivers, the white signifies winter, the green represents agriculture and woods, and the star symbolizes L'Étoile du Nord and the state's abundant natural resources. The waves stand in for the Dakota phrase for the state of Minnesota, which means "sky-tinted waters." The flag received a lot of support from state lawmakers and publications, notably the Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press, and it was chosen as the winner of an unofficial competition by the St. Paul Pioneer Press to design a new state flag.
 

2017 Petition
 

Guy Johnson, a Saint Paul citizen, began a petition on Change.org in March 2017 to alter the Minnesota state flag, calling it "shameful" for its "unoriginality and sloth." 400 people have signed the petition as of February 2018. The petition also provides nine substitutions that were suggested by the Reddit vexillological community.

Interesting Fact About the Minnesota Flag
 

1. Amelia Hyde Center and Pauline Gerhardin Fjelde were the designers of the Minnesota Flag.
 

2. A competition was organized in 1893 to produce a design that would be on display at the Chicago World's Fair. The winning submission was provided by Amelia Hyde Center of Minneapolis and featured a white field with the state seal and a blue color on the back.
 

3. The textile artist Pauline Fjelde and her sister Thomane were hired to make the actual prototype flag.

Our Minnesota Flags are Made in the USA!
 

Two examples of the Made in America products that Carrot-Top Industries is glad to provide are the Minnesota and our American flags. American products make terrific investments, and our flags rank among the best ever made, easily exceeding our strict quality requirements. 

Types of Minnesota Flag Carrot-Top Offers
 

Here at Carrot-Top Industires, we are proud to offer Minnesota flags for indoor use, outdoor use and Minnesota flag sets!
 

Our Indoor Minnesota flags make stunning displays in every room of your house, church, office, building, or institution of higher learning. Flags for indoor use have a line pole sleeve and opulent gold fringe. The most adaptable flags available are our Minnesota indoor flags. These flags feature bright, fading-resistant colors and beautiful lock stitching. There are two sizes of indoor Minnesota flags: 3' x 5' and 4' x 6'. With our unique 5-9' Majestic Telescopic pole or an 8' indoor/parade flagpole, the 3' by 5' Minnesota flag displays best. A 9' indoor/parade flagpole or our Majestic Telescopic pole go best with the 4' by 6' Minnesota flag.
 

Our Outdoor Minnesota flags provide you with the chance to show off your pride in the wonderful state of Minnesota and are made of the best materials available. Outdoor flags come in a variety of sizes and two different fabrics. Both Patriarch® polyester and Beacon® nylon are used in the construction of our Outdoor Minnesota flags. Both fabrics are exclusive to Carrot Top and come with the protective components required to give your flag greater durability and lifespan. The extra-durable, woven nylon used to create the Beacon® Nylon Minnesota flag has the appearance and feel of cotton. These flags work best in regions with temperate climates and calmer winds. These flags are available in the following sizes: 12" x 18", 2'x3, 3'x5, 4'x6, 5'x8, 6'x10, and 8'x12". The extremely durable, 2-ply woven polyester used to create Patriarch® Polyester Minnesota flags have the look and feel of cotton. Outdoor flags are made to endure strong winds in areas near coastlines and in climates with extremes. These flags are available in three different sizes: 3'x5', 4'x6', and 5'x8'.
 

The creativity of our gorgeous Minnesota flags and the grace of our gorgeous flagpoles are combined in Minnesota Flag Sets. We provide a variety of flags, flag poles, and (pole) finish options in our flag sets. With the help of our Minnesota Flag sets, you may choose how to gracefully exhibit your respect for the state of Minnesota. The 3' x 5' and 4' x 6' Minnesota flags are the two sizes that are offered. Both flags complement our unique Majestic Telescopic Flagpole admirably. This flagpole is simple to install and transport, and it changes from 5 to 9 feet tall with a few easy twists in one of its three pieces. There are three regal pole finishes available: gold, wood-grained chrome, and wood-grained chrome.
 

Contact us Today for Assistance!
 

At Carrot-Top Industries, we are extremely proud of our tenacity and expertise, which span more than 40 years. To ensure that clients like you receive the best, most accurate information possible, we rely on our considerable experience. Fill out our Contact Us Form today! Any of our customer service representatives will be delighted to assist you in placing an order for an Iowa state flag, an American flag made in America, a flagpole, any of our customized products, or even one of our military flags! To ensure that you get the correct flag, please read our comprehensive buying guide for state and national flags. If you have any questions, get in touch with us straight away! 

FAQ About the State of Minnesota
 

Is Minnesota getting a new flag?
 
-Legislators in Minnesota are renewing a campaign to change the state's flag and emblem, which supporters claim are confusing compared to those of other American states and contain imagery that is derogatory to Native Americans.
  

-The legislation, authored jointly by Golden Valley, Minnesota, and Maplewood, New Jersey, Democratic Representatives Mike Freiberg and Peter Fischer, would create a 14-member redesign commission made up of elected officials, members of the public chosen by the governor, and representatives from the state's ethnic and indigenous councils. Additionally, it would have one representative from each of the Dakota and Ojibwe tribes.
 

-The official state seal is prominently shown on the current flag, which is blue. According to Kevin Jensvold, tribal chairman for the Yellow Medicine Dakota of the Upper Sioux Community, the seal's depiction of a white settler tilling soil in the foreground and a Native American riding a horse in the background fails to acknowledge Minnesota's history of violence against Native Americans.

What is the state of Minnesota famous for?
  

The name of the state, which has the most lakes of any state in the union, is "The Land of 10,000 Lakes." Minnesota is renowned for its outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, fishing, and winter sports, as well as for being the location of Mall of America, the largest shopping center in the United States.
 

What are 5 interesting facts about Minnesota?
 

1. The Dakota tribe's word for the Minnesota River, mnisota, which means "cloudy, muddy water" or "sky-tinted water," is whence Minnesota gets its name.
 

2. Iron ore has been extensively produced in the Mesabi mountain range of Minnesota. The state is particularly well-known for its manganese mines, which are used to produce steel and aluminum, as well as batteries.
 

3. A nine-mile network of above-ground walkways connects city buildings in downtown Minneapolis. It is regarded as the largest skyway in the world because it connects more than 73 blocks.
 

4. Famous Minnesotans include "Peanuts" author Charles Schulz, Judy Garland from the Wizard of Oz, and Prince and Bob Dylan from music.
 

5. The largest mall in the country is the Mall of America in Minnesota. Inside, there are full-size roller coasters, a seven-acre amusement park, and more than 500 stores.