U.S. state · ME
Flag of Maine
The Maine flag displays the state coat of arms on a field of dark blue: a farmer and a sailor flank a shield with a moose resting under a pine tree, beneath the North Star and the motto Dirigo. The state adopted this design in 1909.
What the Maine state flag looks like
The Maine state flag has a dark blue field with the state coat of arms in the center. At the middle of the arms is a shield showing a moose lying down at the foot of a tall pine tree. To the left of the shield stands a farmer resting on a scythe, and to the right stands a sailor leaning on an anchor. Above the shield is the North Star, and a ribbon beneath the star carries the Latin word DIRIGO. At the bottom, a ribbon with the name MAINE completes the design.
Maine flag meaning and symbolism
Each part of the arms has a meaning. The pine tree recalls Maine's nickname, the Pine Tree State. The moose is the state animal. The farmer and the sailor represent the two traditional livelihoods of Maine, agriculture and the sea, and their tools, the scythe and the anchor, make this clear.
The North Star above the shield is meant to allude to the motto Dirigo, a Latin word meaning "I direct" or "I lead." The blue field follows the flags carried by Maine's units in the Civil War and honors Union veterans.
History of the Maine flag
Maine became the 23rd state in 1820, when it separated from Massachusetts as part of the Missouri Compromise, and it adopted its coat of arms that year. A state flag came much later. The first flag, adopted in 1901, showed a green pine tree and a blue North Star on a buff-colored background.
In 1909 the legislature replaced it with the present flag: the coat of arms on a blue field, modeled after flags used by Maine's units in the Civil War. It has been the official state flag ever since and is the flag in use today.
Maine's flag is among the many U.S. state flags that place a seal or coat of arms on blue. To see how it compares, visit our U.S. state flags page, or learn about the flag of the United States.
Maine flag colors
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100, 62, 0, 61Maine flag facts
| Adopted | February 23, 1909 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 11:14 |
| State capital | Augusta |
| State motto | Dirigo |
| Population | 1,362,359 |
Maine state flag FAQ
What does the Maine state flag look like?
It shows the Maine coat of arms on a dark blue field. The arms include a moose and pine tree on a shield, a farmer and a sailor, the North Star and the motto Dirigo.
What does Dirigo mean?
Dirigo is Latin for "I direct" or "I lead." It is the state motto and appears on a ribbon under the North Star.
What was the original Maine flag?
The first Maine flag, adopted in 1901, showed a green pine tree and a blue North Star on a buff background. It was replaced in 1909.
When did Maine change its flag?
Maine replaced its 1901 flag with the current design in 1909. That flag, with the coat of arms on blue, remains the official state flag.
What are the animal and tree on the Maine flag?
The animal is a moose, the state animal, and the tree is a white pine, which gave Maine the nickname Pine Tree State.
Does Maine have two state flags?
Not exactly. Maine has one state flag, a coat of arms on dark blue, but it also has a separate ensign adopted on March 16, 1939. The ensign has a white field with a green pine tree, a foul anchor, and the words MAINE and DIRIGO. It is rarely seen.
Why is Maine changing its flag?
It is not. In November 2024 Maine voted on whether to replace the current flag with a design based on the 1901 flag, which has a pine tree and a North Star on a buff field. Voters rejected the change 55% to 45%, so the 1909 flag remains the state flag.
What was Maine before it was a state?
Maine was part of Massachusetts until it separated in 1820 and became a state. Maine and Massachusetts are the only two states with a separate maritime ensign. Maine adopted its coat of arms in June 1820, and its first state flag came in 1901.
