Brief History of the Pennsylvania State Flag

The Pennsylvania flag is one of the oldest and most historic state flags in the United States. The flag has undergone several changes over the years, but the basic design has remained largely unchanged since 1879. Here’s a look at the history of the Pennsylvania flag and how it came to be the symbol of the Keystone State.

The first official Pennsylvania flag was adopted in 1799. The design of the flag was simple, featuring a blue field with a white stripe running through the center. In the middle of the stripe was a green pine tree, which was a symbol of strength and endurance. This design was based on a similar flag used by one of Pennsylvania’s Revolutionary War regiments.

The 1799 flag served as the official state flag until 1876, when Pennsylvania’s centennial celebration led to calls for a new design. A contest was held to find a new flag, and the winning design featured a blue field with a white stripe and two red stripes. In the middle of the flag was a Keystone (the symbol of Pennsylvania) andanga (a Native American word meaning “good”).

This new design served as the official state flag until 1907, when it was slightly modified to its current form. The only change made to the flag was to move the Keystone from the center to the bottom left corner. Since 1907, this has been the official Pennsylvania flag.

The Pennsylvania flag is one of the oldest and most historic state flags in America. Its simple yet elegant design has remained largely unchanged for more than 100 years. The next time you see the Pennsylvania flag flying, take a moment to appreciate its history and what it represents—the strength and endurance of the Keystone State.