Oregon State Flag
Fact-checked • Updated January 15, 2025
Oregon State Flag
Oregon adopted its state flag in 1925, featuring different designs on each side. The front displays the state coat of arms in gold on a navy blue field. The reverse shows a gold beaver. Oregon remains the only U.S. state with a two-sided flag.
What Is the Oregon State Flag?
The Oregon state flag is the official banner representing the state of Oregon. A navy blue field holds the state coat of arms in gold on the front. The words State of Oregon appear above the emblem. The year 1859 sits below.
The flag's reverse side shows a gold beaver standing on a log. Oregon is the only U.S. state flag with different images on each side. This design requires more expensive manufacturing than single-sided flags.
The Oregon legislature adopted the flag on February 26, 1925. Meier & Frank department store produced the first official flag that year. Employees Marjorie Kennedy and Blanche Cox sewed it by hand.
Meaning of the Oregon State Flag
The Oregon state flag meaning connects to the state's settlement history and natural resources. The coat of arms represents Oregon's journey from frontier territory to statehood.
The beaver on the reverse symbolizes Oregon's fur trade heritage. Beaver pelts drove early European settlement in the region. The animal became Oregon's official state mammal and inspired the nickname The Beaver State.
History of the Oregon State Flag
Oregon used unofficial regimental flags before adopting an official state banner. In 1888, the Oregon State Guard ordered three blue silk flags bearing the state seal. Each flag cost two hundred fifty dollars. Similar flags appeared at various events through the early 1900s.
A banner represented Oregon at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915. The front showed a white field with the state seal and the words Exposition 1915. The American flag appeared on the back.
The legislature authorized an official state flag on February 26, 1925. The design featured navy blue and gold, Oregon's state colors. Meier & Frank made the first flag in Portland. The flag showed the state coat of arms on one side and a beaver on the other.
Early versions sometimes used a multicolored state seal instead of all gold. The design has remained essentially unchanged since 1925. Two-sided flags cost more to manufacture than standard flags. Paraguay is the only country with a similar two-sided national flag.
Symbols of the Oregon State Flag
Oregon State Flag Coat of Arms
The state coat of arms dominates the flag's front. An eagle perches atop a shield. Thirty-three stars surround the shield representing Oregon as the thirty-third state admitted to the Union.
The shield shows Oregon's landscape and economy. Mountains rise in the background. A covered wagon and ox team cross the foreground representing the Oregon Trail. An elk with branching antlers stands on the left.
Two ships appear on the water. A British man-of-war sails away while an American merchant vessel arrives. The Pacific Ocean stretches beneath a setting sun. These images mark the transition from British to American control.
Oregon State Flag Agricultural Symbols
A plow, pickax, and sheaf of wheat appear on the coat of arms. These tools represent Oregon's major industries during settlement. The plow stands for farming. The pickax represents mining. The wheat shows agricultural production.
A banner reading The Union wraps beneath these elements. It declares Oregon's place in the United States.
Oregon State Flag Beaver
A gold beaver stands on a log on the flag's reverse. The beaver faces right. This animal appears only on the back of the flag.
The beaver represents Oregon's fur trade history. Beaver pelts attracted trappers and traders to Oregon in the early 1800s. The state adopted the beaver as its official animal. Oregon earned the nickname The Beaver State from this heritage.
Oregon State Flag Text
The words State of Oregon appear in gold letters above the coat of arms. The year 1859 sits below. This marks when Oregon joined the Union as the thirty-third state.
All lettering and symbols use gold against the navy blue field. These are Oregon's official state colors.
Oregon State Flag Colors
The Oregon state flag uses navy blue and gold. These are Oregon's official state colors. Oregon statute describes the colors but does not provide Cable or Pantone values.
Navy blue forms the background field on both sides. Gold appears in all lettering and symbols including the coat of arms and the beaver.
Oregon State Flag Facts
- Oregon adopted its state flag on February 26, 1925
- The flag is the only U.S. state flag with different designs on each side
- Meier & Frank department store made the first official flag in 1925
- The front shows the state coat of arms with 33 stars
- The back displays a gold beaver on a log
- Navy blue and gold are Oregon's official state colors
Test Your Knowledge
Can you identify state flags? Challenge yourself with our interactive quiz!
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.
Official documentation on Oregon state symbols and flag specifications • Accessed: January 15, 2026
Statutory description of the design and official use of the Oregon state flag • Accessed: January 15, 2026
Authoritative historical overview of the Oregon state flag and its symbolism • Accessed: January 15, 2026
Accuracy Commitment: We strive to maintain accurate and up-to-date information. If you notice any errors or outdated information, please contact us.