Wyoming State Flag

Meaning of the Flag

The state flag of Wyoming features an image of a bison. The bison is a representation of the local wildlife. A seal is placed on the silhouette of the bison as a tribute to the custom of branding livestock. The colors of the flag are meant to represent the Native Americans and the blood shed by the pioneers, purity and uprightness, fidelity, virility and justice.

Colors of the Flag

The colors of the Wyoming state flag are red, white and blue. The background of the flag is blue with a white bison silhouette. The state seal on the bison is blue. There is a band of white surrounding the outer edge, as well as a thicker band of red. The color blue represents the skies, mountains and the traits of justice, virality and fidelity. The red is a symbol of the blood shed by the pioneers, and white is the color of purity.

History of the Flag

The Daughters of the American Revolution in Wyoming hosted a contest to find a design for the new state flag in 1916. A $20 cash prize was offered for the winning design, and the content received 37 submissions. An artist by the name of Verna Keays had the winning design. It was on January 31, 1917 when the new design was adopted and the state flag bill was signed into law.

A DAR regent suggested some changes to the original design before it was adopted. This included changing the direction of the bison. While all state flags manufactured following the first batch were created to include this change, it is not an official law.

Flag Facts

The original design featured the bison facing the fly of the flag. However, it was suggested to change the direction of the bison to face the hoist to create a more balanced design.