After months of deliberation and public input, Minnesota has finally chosen a new flag to represent its state. The new design features a light blue and white striped background, a stylized outline of the state in green, and an eight-pointed star in gold. The flag was officially unveiled on Friday, December 15, 2023, at a ceremony attended by Governor Tim Walz, state legislators, and members of the State Emblems Redesign Commission.
The new flag replaces the old one, which had been in use since 1957 and was widely criticized for being too busy, outdated, and hard to recognize. The old flag featured the state seal, which depicted a farmer plowing a field, a Native American on horseback, a waterfall, a pine tree, and various symbols and mottoes. The seal was also controversial for its depiction of the state’s history and its relationship with the Native American tribes.
The State Emblems Redesign Commission was created by the Legislature in 2023 to select a new flag and seal that would “accurately and respectfully reflect Minnesota’s shared history, resources, and diverse cultural communities.” The commission received more than 2,000 submissions from the public, and narrowed them down to six flag finalists and five seal finalists. The commission then voted on the final design on Friday, after considering feedback from graphic designers, historians, artists, and the general public.
The new flag design was created by Andrew Prekker, a resident of Luverne, Minnesota said, he was inspired by “other state flags known for their simplicity, memorability and popularity, such as Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.” He explained that the blue and white stripes represent the state’s lakes and rivers, the green outline represents the land and forests, and the gold star represents the North Star, which is also the state’s nickname. He said he wanted to create a flag that was “simple, elegant, and distinctive.”
The new flag has received mixed reactions from the public, with some praising it for its modern and minimalist look, and others criticizing it for its lack of originality and symbolism. Some also expressed their preference for other flag finalists, such as the one that featured a loon-inspired design, or the one that had a pine tree and an Ojibwe-style star. The commission said it was open to making some minor tweaks to the final design, such as adjusting the colors and the size of the star, before it becomes official in May 2024.
The new seal design has not been finalized yet, but the commission said it would likely include elements from the old seal, such as the farmer, the Native American, and the waterfall, as well as some new additions, such as a wild rice plant, a canoe, and a honeybee. The seal is used on many government documents and buildings, and is not as visible as the flag.
The commission said it hoped that the new flag and seal would reflect the state’s identity and values, and inspire pride and unity among its residents. The commission also thanked everyone who participated in the redesign process, and encouraged people to learn more about the state’s history and culture.
What do you think of the new flag and seal? Do you like them or not? Let us know in the comments below.
