Brief History of the Indiana State Flag

The current Indiana flag was adopted in 1917, but the story of the Hoosier state’s banner actually dates back much further. Here’s a look at the history of the Indiana flag and how it came to be the symbol of Indiana that we know today.

The first known Indiana flag was made in 1801 by Marion County residents and bore a single star to represent Indiana Territory. Ten years later, when Indiana became a state, the number of stars on the flag increased to 19 to signify that Indiana was the 19th state to join the Union.

In 1861, when Indiana became involved in the Civil War, the state flag was again updated to include a 13-starburst design in honor of the original 13 colonies. It is this design that would ultimately inspire the current Indiana flag.

After the war, as part of an effort to standardize state flags across the country, an Indianapolis newspaper held a contest asking for designs for a new Indiana flag. The winning design, which was submitted by Paul Hadley of Mooresville, featured a field of blue with nineteen five-pointed stars arranged in an outer circle and a larger star in the center. This central star represented Indiana’s status as a pioneer state, with Hadley choosing the word “Progress” as his design’s motto.

The legislature officially adopted Hadley’s design as the state flag in 1917. In 1955, “The Crossroads of America” was added as an additional motto to reflect Indiana’s role as a major transportation hub. And in 2002, “Core values: Unity • Diversity • Integrity • Honor • Opportunity” was added beneath “The Crossroads of America” to further encapsulate what it means to be a Hoosier.

The Indiana flag is more than just a piece of cloth; it’s a symbol of our state’s history and values. From its humble beginnings as a single-star banner to its current form as a symbol of progress and opportunity, the Indiana flag has always been a source of pride for Hoosiers.