New York State Flag

What Is the New York State Flag?

The New York state flag is the official banner representing New York. A dark blue field covers the background. The state coat of arms appears in the center with two women flanking a shield.

The shield shows a landscape with a river, ships, and mountains. An eagle with spread wings sits atop. A white ribbon displays the motto Excelsior in black letters. Government buildings and schools across New York fly this flag.

Meaning of the New York State Flag

The flag represents New York through the state coat of arms. The shield depicts the Hudson River, sailing ships, and mountains. This shows New York's geography and commerce.

Liberty stands on the left holding a pole with a liberty cap. She represents freedom and independence. Justice stands on the right wearing a blindfold and holding scales. She represents fair governance and the rule of law.

The motto Excelsior means Ever Upward in Latin. It reflects New York's spirit of progress and ambition. The eagle symbolizes strength and the United States. Blue demonstrates loyalty to the Union.

History of the New York State Flag

New York introduced its state flag in 1901. The legislature approved a design featuring the state coat of arms on blue. Before 1901, military units carried flags with the coat of arms on buff-colored fields. Buff matched Revolutionary War uniform colors.

The coat of arms itself dated to 1778. The Continental Congress approved it during the Revolutionary War. That design showed Liberty and Justice supporting a shield. When New York formalized its state flag in 1901, officials chose blue instead of buff to align with other state flags.

The legislature updated the flag in 2020. Officials modified the state seal to include the motto E Pluribus Unum. This national motto was added to emphasize unity. The shield and figures remained unchanged. These adjustments refined the coat of arms without altering the flag's core design.

Previous Versions of the New York State Flag

Pre-1901

Buff Field Flag

Early flag featured the coat of arms on a buff field matching Revolutionary War troop uniform colors.

1901–2020

Original Blue Flag

Changed to blue field to align with other state flags, featuring the coat of arms without E Pluribus Unum.

2020–present

Current State Flag

Updated seal includes E Pluribus Unum motto while maintaining the traditional coat of arms design.

Symbols of the New York State Flag

New York Coat of Arms

The coat of arms dominates the flag's center. New York adopted this design in 1778. A shield shows a landscape with the Hudson River running through it. Two ships sail on the water. Mountains rise in the background under a sun.

Liberty stands on the left side. She holds a pole topped with a liberty cap. The cap symbolizes freedom from tyranny. Justice stands on the right. She wears a blindfold showing impartiality. She holds scales representing fair judgment. A sword rests at her feet.

An eagle perches atop the shield with wings spread. The eagle faces right in heraldic tradition. It symbolizes strength and American sovereignty. A globe sits under the eagle showing the Western Hemisphere.

State Motto Excelsior

The motto Excelsior appears on a white ribbon below the shield. This Latin word means Ever Upward. New York adopted this motto in 1778.

The motto reflects ambition and progress. It became famous through Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1841 poem titled Excelsior. The word captures New York's spirit of advancement and achievement.

Blue Field

Dark blue covers the entire background. New York switched from buff to blue in 1901. Blue became standard for many state flags in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The shade matches the blue used in the United States flag. It demonstrates New York's loyalty to the Union. Blue provides strong contrast for the coat of arms elements.

New York State Flag Colors

The flag uses dark blue, white, gold, green, brown, and orange. Dark blue forms the field. White appears in Liberty's clothing and the ribbon. Gold shows in Justice's clothing and details. Green depicts the landscape. Brown colors the eagle. Orange highlights the sun.

New York State Flag Facts

• New York adopted its state flag in 1901
• The coat of arms dates to 1778
• The flag changed from buff to blue field in 1901
• The motto Excelsior means Ever Upward in Latin
• The flag was updated in 2020 to include E Pluribus Unum
• Liberty and Justice serve as supporters on the coat of arms