Historical Flags

The Indiana state flag was officially adopted in 1917, but its origins date back to 1916, when the state held a design contest to celebrate its centennial of statehood. The winning design came from Paul Hadley, an artist from Mooresville, Indiana.

The flag features a gold torch in the center, symbolizing liberty and enlightenment, with rays radiating outward representing their far-reaching influence. Surrounding the torch are 19 stars:

• In the outer circle for the original colonies
• In the inner semi-circle for the next five states admitted to the Union
• Above the torch representing Indiana, the 19th state to join the United States in 1816
  

The word "Indiana" arches above the large central star.

The flag’s design has remained unchanged since its adoption and reflects Indiana’s identity as a beacon of progress and its place in American history.