Oklahoma State Flag
Fact-checked • Updated January 15, 2025
Oklahoma State Flag
Oklahoma adopted its state flag in 1925, displaying an Osage war shield on a blue field. Artist Louise Funk Fluke designed the banner after a contest held by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The word Oklahoma was added below the shield in 1941.
What Is the Oklahoma State Flag?
The Oklahoma state flag is the official banner representing the state of Oklahoma. A sky blue field holds an Osage war shield at its center. The shield bears six crosses and seven pendant eagle feathers.
A peace pipe crosses with an olive branch atop the shield. Below appears the word Oklahoma in white capital letters. The flag's design honors Native American heritage and peaceful settlement.
Louise Funk Fluke won a design contest in 1924 sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The state legislature adopted her design on April 2, 1925. Colors and shapes were standardized by law on November 1, 2006.
Meaning of the Oklahoma State Flag
The Oklahoma state flag meaning represents peace between Native Americans and European settlers. The design combines symbols from both cultures to show unity.
The Osage shield stands for protection and defense. The peace pipe represents Native American traditions. The olive branch symbolizes peace among European settlers. Together they show different peoples united.
History of the Oklahoma State Flag
Oklahoma introduced its first state flag in 1911, four years after statehood. The design featured a red field with a white star bordered in blue. The number 46 appeared inside the star marking Oklahoma as the forty-sixth state. Ruth Dickinson Clement created this flag.
The Daughters of the American Revolution sponsored a contest in 1924 to replace the red flag. Red flags had become associated with communism. Louise Funk Fluke of Shawnee submitted the winning design. Her entry showed an Osage war shield with a peace pipe and olive branch on a blue field.
The legislature approved Fluke's design on April 2, 1925. The word Oklahoma was added in 1941. The official design remained unchanged for decades. Unauthorized versions appeared across the state showing incorrect shapes, colors, and proportions.
A Boy Scout leader noticed the problem in 2005 while designing patches. Multiple incorrect versions appeared on government websites. He contacted his state representative. Senate Bill 1359 standardized the colors and shapes. Governor Brad Henry signed it into law on May 23, 2006. The standardization took effect November 1, 2006.
Previous Versions of the Oklahoma State Flag
State Flag
A red field with a white star bordered in blue. The number 46 appeared inside the star.
State Flag
Louise Fluke's design with an Osage shield, peace pipe, and olive branch. No text appeared below the shield.
State Flag
The word Oklahoma was added below the shield in white letters.
Modern State Flag
Colors and shapes were standardized to match the original 1925 design specifications.
Symbols of the Oklahoma State Flag
Oklahoma State Flag Osage Shield
An Osage war shield sits at the center of the flag. The shield is covered in tanned buffalo hide. Six crosses mark the face of the shield. Seven pendant eagle feathers hang from the bottom edge.
The shield represents protection and defensive warfare. The Osage Nation traditionally used this type of shield. Its presence on the flag honors Oklahoma's Native American heritage.
Oklahoma State Flag Crosses
Six crosses appear on the Osage shield in two rows. The crosses are painted in gold brown. They represent high ideals and also suggest stars.
Each cross features a horizontal bar at three-quarters the width of the vertical bar. The horizontal bar sits at the twenty-five percent mark of the vertical bar.
Oklahoma State Flag Peace Pipe
A Native American peace pipe rests diagonally across the shield. The pipe crosses an olive branch at right angles. The pipe body is ruby red. The stem shows flesh tones.
The peace pipe represents Native American traditions and the desire for peace. It appears as a calumet used in ceremonial practices.
Oklahoma State Flag Olive Branch
An olive branch crosses the peace pipe atop the shield. The branch is colored Dartmouth green. It symbolizes peace among European settlers.
The olive branch paired with the peace pipe shows unity between different cultures. Together they express Oklahoma's commitment to peace.
Oklahoma State Flag Colors
The Oklahoma state flag uses French blue, amber, white, flesh, gold brown, ruby red, and Dartmouth green. Oklahoma statute specifies Pantone values for each color.
Louise Fluke chose the blue to match the Choctaw battle flag flown during the Civil War. The shield appears in amber. Feathers and pipe elements use flesh and gold brown. The pipe body is ruby red. The olive branch is Dartmouth green.
Oklahoma State Flag Facts
- Oklahoma adopted its current flag design on April 2, 1925
- Louise Funk Fluke designed the flag after winning a 1924 contest
- The flag features an Osage war shield with six crosses
- The word Oklahoma was added to the flag in 1941
- Colors and shapes were standardized by law on November 1, 2006
- The blue field was chosen to match the Choctaw battle flag
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Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records and historical databases.
Comprehensive history and symbolism of Oklahoma's state flag • Accessed: January 15, 2026
Official state source for Oklahoma symbols and history • Accessed: January 15, 2026
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