State of Indiana 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.