Okay, let’s see how geeky you are, vexillologically speaking. Warning: this one's got the answers. If you wanna just try the questions, try here.
#20 The only non-4-sided flag
Ohio. Easy, right? Especially if you read this blog.
You already learned a lot there about this one. I’ll bet you didn’t know, though, that it only dates back to 1902, with the state totally lacking a flag up to that point. There’s a story out there that future president James Garfield had vowed no Buckeyes would fight in the Civil War under anything other than Old Glory. The current flag originally started out as simple pennants for the state pavilion at some big exhibition.
#19 The only flag with a different back and front
Oregon. Yup, here’s another one that you should already know.
One thing I didn’t mention there … This probably goes without saying, but that 1859 is the year that Oregon joined the Union.
And here’s something that I can almost guarantee that you didn’t know … Oregon wasn’t always alone in being two-faced. Up until 1971, Massachusetts also sported a different reverse as well:
#18 The only flag with a green background
Washington. It is known as the Evergreen State after all.
I’m pretty sure it’s also the only state flag designed by DAR, the Daughters of the American Revolution. Washington’s another state that went a long time with no flag, adopting this baby only in 1923.
#17 This flag is basically another state’s flag with a seal added to it
Florida. And that other state is Alabama:
See? More about that red X right here (under Alabama).
#16 This flag features the Confederate battle flag
Mississippi. Not that hard right?
Interestingly, this one dates only to 1894. The previous state flag had no battle flag, but a magnolia:
#15 This flag features the Confederate national flag
Georgia. Yup, the old Stars and Bars. I guess that’s not quite as in your face as the battle flag.
The only difference is what’s in the canton (the CSA has a ring of stars):
Interestingly, Georgia did have a flag that featured the battle flag as well. That one lasted
from 1956 to 2001.
#14 Lots of flags have the sun on them. This is the only one with a moon on it.
South Carolina. Actually, it’s a gorget. I explained that all a couple of weeks ago.
You wouldn’t believe how popular this design is where I live (right on the NC-SC state line). It appears on practically everything, and in all sorts of different colors, all over the place.
#12 Lots of flags feature stars on them. This is the only one that features a real constellation.
Alaska. You probably already knew that was the Big Dipper over on the bottom left and the North Star in the top left. Did you know, though, that you can use the Big Dipper to find the North Star? Yup, just follow the right side of the cup … just like on the flag!
#11 Lots of flags have fake people on them (allegorical figures, chiefly). This is the only one with a real person.
Washington (George). You know, the green one!
By the way, if you guessed Kentucky, I’ll have to give you partial credit. Most people assume their flag features Daniel Boone and Henry Clay, but – officially, at least – these two are a generic frontiersman and a generic statesman.
#10 The only flags that include borders
West Virginia and Wyoming. In fact, the latter’s border had a lot with its getting into my top 10.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for the Mountain State. I mean, that is one busy, ugly, yet oddly Christmas-y seal.
#9 This flag includes the flag of another country pasted smack dab on top of it
Hawaii. I’ve already explained this one too.
What I didn’t mention that this flag was actually designed by King Kamehameha himself (oh, with a little assistance from some polite British naval officer). Never would have guessed that last bit.
#8 This flag is basically the flag of Netherlands, with a seal on it
Missouri. Not that it has any connection to that country though.
On the other hand, Iowa definitely had France’s tricolor in mind. Iowa was, in fact, settled by the French and was part of the original Louisiana Territory. You know, Des Moines, Dubuque, Le Claire …
#7 The only flags that include the state initial
North Carolina, Colorado.
I’ve never been a big fan of the flag of my home state. It just looks too much like Texas’s. They actually did have something a little bit more different at one time:
Colorado often makes it into a lot of people’s top 10. I thought about putting it in my mine, but it just reminded me too much of the Chicago Cubs.
#6 This flag includes a beehive
Utah. Because they’re so darn industrious.
Would you believe this baby is only 6 years old? Turns out this latest variant corrected an error that had been on the flag for 98 years. See if you can spot it:
Yup, the 1847 is supposed to be part of the shield! Everybody knows that.
#5 The red on several flags symbols the blood of soldiers who died fighting for their state. Only one features real drops of blood.
Louisiana. What that blood represents, though, needs a little explanation.
Turns out there’s an old tale about pelicans feeding their young by giving them blood from their own breast. In heraldic terms, it’s called a “pelican in their piety.” It’s considered a symbol of self-sacrifice.
#4 This one shows a murder scene
Virginia. Hmm, and it looks like a naked breast as well. Heck, they oughta just change their state motto to “sex and violence" (sexus et violentium, in Latin).
This one dates all the way back to the Civil War. Interestingly, there was no nudity back in those prudish times, and Lady Virtue was all covered up. The seal itself dates all the way back to the Revolutionary War.
That thing in the standing figure’s left hand? Well, that would be a parazonium. What’s a parazonium? A parazonium is a “a long triangular dagger, wide at the hilt end and coming to a point. In the Roman mythology, it is frequently carried by Virtus, particularly on early representations” (Wikipedia). It was actually not a real weapon, but was used to show rank.
#3 This one features grapes, though the state is not exactly known for its wine production
Connecticut. Hard to believe, but there actually are wineries in the Nutmeg State.
How did they make it onto a flag? The answer lies in the Latin inscription, which translates as “he who transplanted still sustains.” And that’s a reference to the Bible – in particular, the 80th Psalm: 'Thou has brought a vine out of Egypt: Thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it." You know, kind of like those early English settlers did with those savage Native Americans.
#2 Several flags feature suns. This one has a sun with a face on it.
New York.
Now, why is the sun so happy? I really don’t know. A smiling sun does appear on many other flags though – Uruguay, Argentina, Persia ... It’s an old heraldic convention.
Interestingly, New York’s flag is the only state one that also includes a globe. Well, it is the Empire State after all.
#1 This one was designed by a 13-year-old orphan
Alaska. And that orphan was one John (Benny) Benson.
He won a contest that was held way back in 1927. He took the $1,000 prize money he netted and invested it in his education, becoming a successful engineer. BTW, he also picked Alaska’s state flower, the forget-me-not. Way to go, Benny!
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