Official and Traditional Colors of Rhode Island
Rhode Island state colors are Blue, White, and Gold, based on the 1897 state flag. Full HEX, RGB, CMYK, and Pantone values with historical context for designers and researchers.
Official color palette of Rhode Island
State color reference
- Official colors
- Blue, White, and Gold (Traditional / Unofficial — no statutory designation)
- Official since
- No statutory designation; traditional colors from the 1897 state flag
- Primary use
- State flag, state coat of arms (golden anchor on blue), ceremonial contexts, state government visual identity
- Known for
- White field with a gold anchor surrounded by 13 gold stars on a blue ribbon; the anchor has been a symbol of Rhode Island since 1647 when it appeared on the colony's first seal; Rhode Island is one of only a few U.S. states with a white-field flag; white and blue are the same colors used on Rhode Island regimental flags in the Revolutionary War
Color Specifications
Click any value to copy to clipboard
Blue
Represents the blue ribbon on the state flag bearing the motto 'HOPE,' and the deep blue of Narragansett Bay — the central geographic feature of Rhode Island, which provides over 40 percent of the state's border; blue also traces to the regimental flags of Rhode Island Continental Army units during the American Revolutionary War, which used white and blue in their designs; the state coat of arms — a gold anchor on a blue field — uses this shade as the field color
White
Represents purity and the field of the Rhode Island state flag; the white background corresponds to the facings on Rhode Island militia uniforms worn during the American Revolution, as noted in the historical documentation of the 1877 flag adoption; white also reflects the civic idealism of Roger Williams, who founded the Providence Plantations in 1636 as a sanctuary of religious tolerance and freedom of conscience — principles that placed Rhode Island's founding identity in a category of moral clarity symbolized by the color white
Gold
Represents the gold anchor at the center of the state flag — the symbol of hope that has appeared on Rhode Island's seal since 1647 — and the thirteen gold stars surrounding it; gold also evokes the maritime commerce that defined Rhode Island's colonial and early national economy, as Providence and Newport were among the most active trading ports in colonial America; the yellow fringe specified in the state flag code adds another gold element to the flag's visual presentation
WCAG Contrast Checker
Accessibility compliance for Blue and White
White
on Blue background
Blue
on White background
WCAG 2.1 Standards:
- AA Normal Text: 4.5:1 minimum
- AA Large Text: 3:1 minimum
- AAA Normal Text: 7:1 minimum
- AAA Large Text: 4.5:1 minimum
Developer Export
Copy-paste ready code snippets
CSS Variables
/* CSS Variables for Rhode Island */
:root {
--rhode-island-blue: #003271;
--rhode-island-white: #FFFFFF;
--rhode-island-gold: #FEC500;
}Tailwind CSS Config
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
extend: {
colors: {
'rhode-island': {
'blue': '#003271',
'white': '#FFFFFF',
'gold': '#FEC500',
}
}
}
}
}SCSS Variables
// SCSS Variables for Rhode Island
$rhode-island-blue: #003271;
$rhode-island-white: #FFFFFF;
$rhode-island-gold: #FEC500;
Year the Rhode Island General Assembly first adopted the anchor for the colonial seal — the gold symbol of hope that has appeared continuously in Rhode Island's official visual identity for nearly 400 years and defines the gold in the state's traditional color palette
Official Status and History
Rhode Island has not designated official state colors by legislative statute. The blue, white, and gold of the state flag are the colors most widely recognized as representing the state, tracing their use in Rhode Island's official visual identity to the colonial era. The current state flag was adopted by the Rhode Island General Assembly at its January Session of 1897 and is described in Rhode Island General Laws § 42-4-3, which specifies the flag's dimensions, elements, and colors in heraldic terms without providing technical color specifications. This de facto pattern parallels language on the Ocean State nickname page.
The flag's historical origins reach back to 1647, when the Rhode Island General Assembly adopted the anchor for the colonial seal. The 1897 flag consolidated the anchor, the 13 stars, and the blue ribbon into the current design, drawing on earlier military flag traditions. The 1877 flag — the first non-military state flag — used the same white field with blue stars and an anchor, noting that 'the colors, white and blue, are the same as those used in the flags carried by the regiments of the State of Rhode Island during the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Mexican War.'
Rhode Island General Laws § 42-4-3
RI Gen. Laws § 42-4-3 describes the state flag as 'white, five feet and six inches fly and four feet and ten inches deep on the pike, bearing on each side in the center a gold anchor, twenty-two inches high, and underneath it a blue ribbon twenty-four inches long and five inches wide, or in these proportions, with the motto Hope in golden letters thereon, the whole surrounded by thirteen golden stars in a circle.' The statute does not specify Pantone, Cable, or HEX values. The Rhode Island flag is one of only a few U.S. state flags with a white field (joining the flags of California, which is also predominantly white).
The Anchor and Hope: Rhode Island's Defining Symbol
The anchor has been Rhode Island's defining symbol since the colonial era. The Rhode Island General Assembly adopted the anchor for the provincial seal in 1647 under the Cromwellian Patent of 1643. In 1644, when King Charles II granted a more liberal charter to the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the anchor was retained on the seal and the word 'Hope' was added above it. The inspiration was the biblical phrase from Hebrews 6:18-19: 'hope we have as an anchor of the soul.' Rhode Island's earliest colonists — religious dissenters fleeing persecution in Massachusetts — were particularly drawn to this image of steadfast hope under pressure, which is documented in Rhode Island's motto history.
Key milestones
Roger Williams founds Providence as a sanctuary of religious tolerance; the founding principle of freedom of conscience becomes embedded in Rhode Island's civic identity
Rhode Island General Assembly adopts the anchor for the colonial seal; the gold anchor on a blue field becomes the enduring symbol of the state's identity
Rhode Island becomes the first colony to formally renounce allegiance to King George III on May 4, two months before the national Declaration of Independence
Rhode Island ratifies the United States Constitution on May 29 as the 13th and final state; the 13 gold stars on the flag commemorate this role
Rhode Island adopts its first non-military state flag using white and blue — colors matching the regimental flags of the Revolutionary War
Current state flag formally adopted, combining the white field, gold anchor, blue ribbon with 'HOPE' motto, and 13 gold stars in the design still in use today
← Swipe for more
What the Colors Represent
Blue, white, and gold in Rhode Island's flag tradition speak to the state's maritime identity, founding idealism, and position as the 13th and final colony to ratify the Constitution. White reflects the purity of purpose that motivated Roger Williams in founding Providence as a refuge of religious liberty. Blue reflects the defining role of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island's geography and history. Gold reflects the hope anchored in the state seal — a symbol that has held constant for nearly 400 years, with regional context in States That Border Rhode Island.
White: Roger Williams and the Founding of Religious Liberty
Rhode Island's founding in 1636 by Roger Williams, who was expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for advocating religious tolerance and separation of church and state, gave the state a founding identity rooted in the principle of freedom of conscience. Williams established Providence as a settlement where people of all religious beliefs — including Jews, Quakers, and others persecuted elsewhere in colonial America — could live without religious coercion. This tradition of civic and moral clarity is reflected in the white field of the state flag and in Rhode Island's record as the first colony to formally renounce allegiance to King George III (May 4, 1776), before the national Declaration of Independence.
Gold: Maritime Commerce and the Thirteen Colonies
Gold's prominence in Rhode Island's flag — the anchor, the 13 stars, and the 'HOPE' lettering are all gold — reflects both the maritime commercial wealth that made colonial Providence and Newport prosperous and the state's singular position as the 13th and final colony to ratify the United States Constitution (May 29, 1790). Rhode Island's delay in ratifying was itself a reflection of the state's fierce independence: it held out until the Bill of Rights was assured, a testament to the founding principles of liberty that have defined Rhode Island's civic identity since Williams's arrival in 1636. The 13 gold stars on the flag honor both the original 13 colonies and Rhode Island's specific rank among them.
Usage in Flags, Seals, and Insignias
Blue, white, and gold define the Rhode Island state flag in their entirety and appear extensively in state institutional contexts. The Rhode Island state coat of arms displays a gold anchor on a blue field — the same two colors that form the core of the flag's design — and this coat of arms appears on official state seals and government documents. The Rhode Island state motto 'HOPE' appears in gold on the blue ribbon of the flag. Rhode Island government agency branding, the Rhode Island General Assembly's official materials, and state ceremonial contexts all use the blue, white, and gold palette derived from the flag. The University of Rhode Island uses blue and white as its institutional colors, while Brown University uses brown and white, neither matching the gold of the state flag — a common divergence between university and state colors. Related symbol context is available on Rhode Island state pages.
Timeline
Roger Williams founds Providence as a sanctuary of religious tolerance; the founding principle of freedom of conscience becomes embedded in Rhode Island's civic identity
Roger Williams founds Providence as a sanctuary of religious tolerance; the founding principle of freedom of conscience becomes embedded in Rhode Island's civic identity
Rhode Island General Assembly adopts the anchor for the colonial seal; the gold anchor on a blue field becomes the enduring symbol of the state's identity
Rhode Island becomes the first colony to formally renounce allegiance to King George III on May 4, two months before the national Declaration of Independence
Rhode Island becomes the first colony to formally renounce allegiance to King George III on May 4, two months before the national Declaration of Independence
Rhode Island ratifies the United States Constitution on May 29 as the 13th and final state; the 13 gold stars on the flag commemorate this role
Rhode Island adopts its first non-military state flag using white and blue — colors matching the regimental flags of the Revolutionary War
Rhode Island adopts its first non-military state flag using white and blue — colors matching the regimental flags of the Revolutionary War
Current state flag formally adopted, combining the white field, gold anchor, blue ribbon with 'HOPE' motto, and 13 gold stars in the design still in use today
"The gold anchor on Rhode Island's flag has persisted as a state symbol for nearly 400 years — longer than any other heraldic element still in continuous use in American state visual identity."
Quick Answers
What are the colors of Rhode Island?
Does Rhode Island have official state colors?
What is the HEX code for Rhode Island Blue?
What does the gold anchor on Rhode Island's flag mean?
Why does Rhode Island's flag have a white background?
Sources
Related Symbols
Show more (2)
Related States
Compare all 50 states by population, land area, statehood date, and more.
Themed lists - states sharing the same bird, oldest symbols, flags with bears, and more.
Side-by-side comparison of population, area, income, taxes, climate, and more.
Top 20 most common surnames per state - with origins, meanings, and heritage context. Is yours on the list?
You Might Also Like
List of U.S. State Demonyms: Names for Residents of Every State
Complete list of official U.S. state demonyms. Use the interactive table with sorting to find out what residents of each state are called. Map and PDF version included.
The Most Common Job in Every U.S. State (2026 Data)
Explore the 2026 map of most common jobs by state. See why roles have shifted to home health aides and logistics. Includes interactive table, map, and PDF.
Population Density in the United States by State (2026)
Ranked list of US states by population density. Includes interactive map, PDF and sorting table for NY, CA, FL. See why Maryland's density exceeds its capacity.
33 State Capitals That Are Not the Largest City in Their State
Of the 50 U.S. states, 33 have a capital that is not the largest city. See every state capital vs. largest city, from Albany to Olympia, and the real reasons each capital was placed where it was.
Oldest City in Each U.S. State
A complete list of the oldest city in each U.S. state by founding year. St. Augustine, Florida, founded in 1565, is considered the oldest continuously occupied city in the United States.
What the Colors of the U.S. Flag Mean
The colors of the U.S. flag mean red for valor and bravery, white for purity and innocence, and blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Those official meanings come from the Great Seal, not the 1777 flag law.
U.S. State Flags with Animals
More than a dozen U.S. state flags feature animals, from California's grizzly bear and Wyoming's bison to Louisiana's pelican and Oregon's beaver. This guide shows which state flags have animals and where they appear.
U.S. State Flags with Eagles
Eight U.S. state flags feature a bald eagle: Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, North Dakota, Iowa, Michigan, and Oregon. This guide explains where the eagle appears and what it symbolizes on each flag.