Wisconsin State Flag

What Is the Wisconsin State Flag?

The Wisconsin state flag is the official banner representing the state of Wisconsin. A navy blue field forms the background. The state coat of arms sits in the center. The word WISCONSIN appears in white capital letters above the coat of arms. The year 1848 appears below in white.

A badger sits on top of the coat of arms with the state motto Forward. The shield shows symbols of farming, mining, manufacturing, and navigation. A sailor and a yeoman support the shield on either side. A cornucopia and thirteen lead ingots appear at the bottom.

What the Wisconsin State Flag Means

The Wisconsin state flag meaning comes from symbols representing the state's economic foundations and values. Each element on the coat of arms reflects an important aspect of Wisconsin's identity and industries.

The motto Forward expresses Wisconsin's progressive spirit. The badger represents the state nickname and mining heritage. The shield symbols show the state's major industries. The sailor and yeoman represent labor on water and land.

History of the Wisconsin State Flag

Wisconsin adopted its first state flag in 1863. Civil War regiments requested a battlefield flag. The legislature formed a committee to choose specifications. The design featured the state coat of arms centered on a dark blue field. This matched designs already used by Wisconsin regiments.

The legislature formally added the flag to Wisconsin Statutes in 1913. The design remained unchanged for decades. Astronaut James Lovell carried Wisconsin flags on Gemini 7 in 1965 and Apollo 13 in 1970. Critics noted the flag lacked distinction from other blue state flags.

The legislature modified the flag in 1979. The new design added WISCONSIN and 1848 in white text. These additions helped distinguish Wisconsin's flag from other state flags. The modification took effect on May 1, 1981. All flags manufactured after that date required the new design.

Previous Versions of the Wisconsin State Flag

1863–1981

Original State Flag

Navy blue field with state coat of arms in the center, no text added.

1981–present

Modified State Flag

Navy blue field with coat of arms, WISCONSIN added above and 1848 below in white text.

Symbols of the Wisconsin State Flag

Wisconsin State Flag Badger

A badger sits on top of the coat of arms. The badger is Wisconsin's state animal. Early miners in Wisconsin lived in temporary dugouts resembling badger burrows.

The badger gave Wisconsin its nickname the Badger State. The animal represents the mining heritage that shaped early Wisconsin settlement.

Wisconsin State Flag Shield

The central shield displays four symbols representing Wisconsin's principal industries. A plow represents farming. A pick and shovel represent mining. An arm and hammer represent manufacturing. An anchor represents navigation.

The United States coat of arms sits in the center of the shield. This shows Wisconsin's place in the nation. The shield summarizes the state's economic foundations.

Wisconsin State Flag Coat of Arms

The state coat of arms forms the central element of the flag. A sailor and a yeoman support the shield on either side. The sailor stands on the left. The yeoman stands on the right. These figures represent labor on water and on land.

A cornucopia appears at the bottom left of the coat of arms. The horn of plenty represents prosperity and agricultural wealth. Thirteen lead ingots appear at the bottom right. The number thirteen represents the original thirteen colonies. The ingots also symbolize Wisconsin's mineral wealth.

Wisconsin State Flag Motto

The motto Forward appears on a banner above the shield. The word expresses Wisconsin's progressive spirit. It reflects the state's commitment to moving ahead.

Forward became the state motto when the coat of arms was designed. The motto captures Wisconsin's optimistic character.

Wisconsin State Flag Colors

The Wisconsin state flag uses navy blue as the background. The coat of arms contains multiple colors including gold, red, white, and flesh tones. The text WISCONSIN and 1848 appear in white.

Wisconsin State Flag Facts

• Wisconsin adopted its state flag in 1863
• The flag was modified in 1979 to add WISCONSIN and 1848
• Civil War regiments requested the original flag design
• Astronaut James Lovell carried Wisconsin flags to space
• The flag was ranked 65th out of 72 in a 2001 NAVA survey
• The modified design took effect on May 1, 1981