Michigan State Flag

Date adopted: Aug 1, 1914

The flag of Michigan is a distinctive emblem set on a dark blue field, as mandated by state law. It is worth noting that the governor possesses a variant of the flag with a white field instead of blue. Michigan designates an official flag month from June 14 through July 14 each year. The flag's design features the state coat of arms, portraying a blue shield with the sun rising over a lake and peninsula. A man with a raised hand, symbolizing peace, holds a long gun, representing the state's historical frontier role. The elk and moose as supporters are drawn from the Hudson's Bay Company coat of arms, signifying Michigan's abundant wildlife. The bald eagle represents the United States, which organized Michigan from the Northwest Territory. The flag includes three Latin mottos: "E Pluribus Unum" (Out of many, one), "Tuebor" (I will defend), and "Si Quæris Peninsulam Amœnam Circumspice" (If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you), serving as the official state motto. It is one of only ten U.S. state flags to feature an eagle. The present flag, adopted in 1911, is Michigan's third state flag, following earlier designs. In 1865, the second flag displayed the state coat of arms on one side and the United States coat of arms on the other.