Thursday, November 16, 2017

State Flag Trivia (Answers)

So, I promised no trivia, didn’t I?  Well, that didn’t last long, did it?

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!


More links:

Friday, November 10, 2017

State Flag Trivia

So, I promised no trivia, didn’t I?  Well, that didn’t last long, did it?

Okay, let’s see how geeky you are, vexillologically speaking.  Answers next week.



#20  The only non-4-sided flag





#19  The only flag with a different back and front





#18  The only flag with a green background





#17  This flag is basically another state’s flag with a seal added to it





#16  This flag features the Confederate battle flag





#15  This flag features the Confederate national flag





#14  Lots of flags have the sun on them.  This is the only one with a moon on it.





#12  Lots of flags feature stars on them.  This is the only one that features a real constellation.





#11  Lots of flags have fake people on them (allegorical figures, chiefly).  This is the only one with a real person.





#10  The only flags that include borders





#9  This flag includes the flag of another country pasted smack dab on top of it





#8  This flag is basically the flag of the Netherlands, with a seal on it





#7  The only flags that include the state initials





#6  This flag includes a beehive





#5  The red on several flags symbols the blood of soldiers and patriots who died fighting for their state.  Only one features real drops of blood.





#4  This one shows a murder scene 





#3  This one features grapes, though the state is not exactly known for its wine production





#2  Several flags feature suns.  This one has a sun with a face on it.





#1  This one was designed by a 13-year-old orphan





Answers

Saturday, November 4, 2017

U.S. States - the Bad & the Ugly

Tolstoy opened Anna Karenina with the line that “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” It’s just the opposite with state flags. Here, let me explain …

As we saw last week, the best state flags (the “happy” ones) have all sorts of different designs and colors and looks. The worst ones (the “unhappy ones”)? Well, they’re pretty much all navy blue, with a seal or coat of arms in the middle. 

The very worst ones also feel they have to include text explaining just whose flag this is. I mean they’re all pretty much the same, right? Might as well just spell it out.

Here let me show you …


#10  Nebraska


So, here’s our basic pattern – navy blue; some busy, lame-o seal; lots of text. This one stands out for the incredible amount of text and the very limited use of color (basically, gold and grey).

Interestingly, Nebraska went without a state flag for 58 years – from 1867 to 1925. You’d think they could have come up with something a little more creative in that time, wouldn’t you?

Fun note …  The Nebraska flag was covered in The Big Bang Theory’s Fun with Flags. Nebraska is where special guest star Penny is from.


#9  Utah

   
Ooh, a circle!

And, yes, that is a beehive. It represents the early settlers – busy, productive, self-sufficient, and industrious.

The Salt Lake Tribune held a contest in 2001 to come up with a new flag. The new design is still dark blue, but at least the seal and text are gone:

Just don’t hold your breath waiting for the state legislature to adopt it, okay?


#8  Maine


Starting to get bored? 

Yup, it’s blue. Yup, it’s got a coat of arms. Yup, the name of the state is spelled out. Bingo!

Just in case you were wondering, that is indeed a moose laying down in front of a pine tree. “Dirigo”? It’s Latin for “I direct.” What exactly were they directing? Not so sure.


#7  Idaho


Here we are, four flags in, and I’m running out of witty things to say.

Just in case you missed it, “State of Idaho” is repeated twice on this baby. The seal includes a miner, an elk, a lady, some flowers, some wheat, a river, some mountains, a big tree, two cornucopias … By the way, it’s the only state seal designed by a woman!


#6  Vermont


Vermont gets extra points for not putting “Vermont” all over their flag. That has to be one of the lamest coats of arms I’ve ever seen though. There’s a tree. There’s some wheat. There’s some blue mountains. There’s a red cow. There’s a yellow sky. Hey, that’s kinda weird too …

Interestingly, Vermont did not always have such a boring flag. Up until 1923, Vermont’s flag was a very distinctive variant of Old Glory itself. 



#5  Kentucky


I think we’ve passed some kind of borderline here.

First, the state seal appear to be two guys. That’s it. Also, the state name is all spelled out. That means it’s in a font that no one can read unless they’re standing 2 feet away. That’s goldenrod down underneath there, by the way. Ahchoo!

Wikipdedia tells me that the North American Vexillological Association (i.e., bunch of flag nerds) ranked this baby #66 out of 72 state, territorial, and provincial flags. I’m thinking the six it beat can be found right here on this page as well.


#4  Kansas


And now we have the flags that are so lame and non-descript that their citizens felt they had to spell out the state name in big block letters. 

The seal is a tad on the busy side. In the space of a large pizza, it manages to portray all of the following:


In the foreground of the seal is a farmer plowing his field. A little further up is a wagon train with oxen-drawn schooners headed westward. Beyond these pioneers are Native Americans hunting bison.… The seal also includes a steamboat churning its way down the Kansas River ... Above the plains in the state seal are rolling hills and above them, 34 stars representing Kansas's entry into the United States' expanding family of states. Above the stars is the state motto, Ad Astra per Aspera, Latin for "To the Stars Through Difficulties." (Kansas Living)

I think that’s a kitchen sink in one of those prairie schooners.


#3  Montana


I’m so glad I can read. If I couldn’t, I’d swear we were still in Kansas.

You’re not going to believe this, but both the Montana and Kansas flags had previous versions that were exactly the same as they are now, but without the state names.

Montana’s NAVA rank?  70th of 72. We’re getting closer!


#2  Wisconsin


Once again, this originally started out without any lettering. Not to be outdone by Kansas and Montana, though, Wisconsin not only added the state name, but they also threw in the year it was founded as well. Wisconsinites are kind of creative that way.

That’s a sailor and a miner, by the way. And in the bottom right? Why, it’s a “pyramid of pig lead,” of course.

NAVA rank?  65th!  


#1  Oregon


Navy blue? Check. Lots of text, including the state name spelled out? Check. Incredibly busy state of arms? Well, how about some mountains, an elk, a wagon, the Pacific Ocean, a “British man-of-war departing and an American steamer arriving,” some wheat, a plow, a pickax, and an eagle? Would that do it for you? You betcha!

Now, you wouldn’t happen to be able to do all that using just a single other color, now would you? I sure can. Hey, I think we have a winner!

By the way, Oregon has the only state flag with a different front (obverse) and back (reverse):

And of course it’s a beaver.


Dishonorable Mention
  • New Hampshire
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • New York
  • Connecticut
  • Pennsylvania
  • Delaware
  • S. Dakota
  • Minnesota