U.S. state · IA
Flag of Iowa
The Iowa flag is a vertical tricolor of blue, white and red, with an eagle carrying streamers in the white stripe. Dixie Cornell Gebhardt designed it in 1917 for Iowa soldiers on the Mexican border, and the state made it official in 1921.
What the Iowa state flag looks like
The Iowa state flag has three vertical stripes: blue at the hoist, white in the center and red at the fly. The center stripe carries a spreading eagle holding in its beak blue streamers that bear the state motto in white letters, Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain. Below the streamers, the word Iowa is printed in red letters.
The Des Moines Register suggested that the three-stripe layout recalls the French tricolor and Iowa's history as a French territory, though Iowa's white stripe is wider.
Iowa flag meaning and symbolism
Dixie Cornell Gebhardt assigned a meaning to each color: blue stands for loyalty, justice and truth, white for purity, and red for courage.
The Des Moines Register suggested that the design hearkens back to Iowa's history as a French territory, since the French flag also has blue, white and red from left to right. The same newspaper said that the red word "Iowa" symbolizes the Iowa soldier writing in letters of blood on the white page of history his determination to defend the ideals of the banner and its motto. The eagle also appears, carrying streamers in its beak, on the Iowa state seal. The motto declares that Iowans value their liberties and will defend their rights.
History of the Iowa flag
Iowa became a state in 1846, but it had no flag for the first 75 years of its existence, apart from regimental banners with state insignia. Iowa National Guardsmen on the Mexican border asked several times for a flag, since other states had their own. Dixie Cornell Gebhardt, a Daughters of the American Revolution member from Knoxville, Iowa, designed one in 1917, and it was accepted by the Iowa State Council for Defense on May 11, 1917. She also assigned the meaning of its colors. Governor William Lloyd Harding accepted it for the state in 1918, but a vote in the legislature failed in 1919.
The Iowa General Assembly made the design official on March 12, 1921. It has been the state flag ever since. For other states, explore our U.S. state flags page, or see the flag of the United States.
Iowa flag colors
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0#0A1F62RGB
10, 31, 98CMYK
90, 68, 0, 62#D80025RGB
216, 0, 37CMYK
0, 100, 83, 15Iowa flag facts
| Adopted | March 29, 1921 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Designer | Dixie Cornell Gebhardt |
| State capital | Des Moines |
| State motto | Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain |
| Population | 3,190,369 |
Iowa state flag FAQ
What does the Iowa flag symbolize?
Blue stands for loyalty, justice and truth, white for purity, and red for courage. The eagle carries streamers with the state motto, and also appears on the state seal.
What is the bird on the Iowa flag?
It is an eagle with spread wings. It holds blue streamers in its beak that carry the state motto.
What is the motto of Iowa?
The motto is "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain." It appears on the streamers carried by the eagle on the flag.
Who designed the Iowa state flag?
Dixie Cornell Gebhardt designed it in 1917. The state officially adopted it in 1921.
Why does the Iowa flag look like the French flag?
The Des Moines Register suggested that the blue, white and red design recalls Iowa's history as a French territory, but Iowa's flag has a wider white stripe.
