U.S. state · MT
Flag of Montana
The Montana flag is a blue field with the state seal in the center and the word MONTANA in gold block letters above it. The seal shows a river, mountains, plains and forests, farming and mining tools, and the Spanish motto Oro y Plata, meaning gold and silver.
What the Montana state flag looks like
The state flag of Montana is a plain blue rectangle. In the center is the Great Seal of Montana, drawn in full color. Above the seal, the word MONTANA is written in gold Helvetica Bold capital letters, equal in height to one-tenth of the height of the blue field. Golden fringe runs along the upper and lower borders of the flag.
The seal contains these elements:
- Mountains, plains and forests near the Great Falls of the Missouri River.
- A plow, a pick and a shovel, representing agriculture and mining.
- A banner with the Spanish motto Oro y Plata below.
- An outer ring with the words "The Great Seal of the State of Montana."
The flag is roughly 3:2 in shape.
Montana flag meaning and symbolism
The scenes on the seal sum up Montana's natural wealth and its economy. The plow stands for agriculture, and the pick and shovel stand for mining. The Great Falls, the mountains, the plains and the forests show the state's landscape.
The motto Oro y Plata is Spanish for "gold and silver," a reference to Montana's mining history.
History of the Montana flag
The flag was adopted in 1905. It largely resembled a flag made by Harry Kessler in 1895, which was later given to the First Montana Volunteers during the Spanish-American War. Before that, the territorial legislature had adopted a flag in September 1887, with a blue field and a white ring around the coat of arms of the territory. The 1905 flag carried the seal without the state name.
In 1981 the design was modified to add the word MONTANA above the seal, and in 1985 the font was standardized as Helvetica Bold. That design is still in use. Compare Montana with other western flags such as Nevada, or look through the full set of U.S. state flags.
Montana flag colors
#002A86RGB
0, 42, 134CMYK
100, 69, 0, 47#FEC70BRGB
254, 199, 11CMYK
0, 22, 96, 0#A2D100RGB
162, 209, 0CMYK
22, 0, 100, 18Montana flag facts
| Adopted | 1905 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| State capital | Helena |
| State motto | Oro y plata |
| Population | 1,084,225 |
Montana state flag FAQ
What does Montana's flag represent?
The seal on the flag shows the landscape near the Great Falls of the Missouri River, with a plow, pick and shovel representing agriculture and mining. The motto means gold and silver.
Why does the Montana flag say Oro y Plata?
Oro y Plata is Spanish for "gold and silver." It refers to Montana's gold and silver mining.
Why does the Montana flag have Spanish words?
The motto Oro y Plata is on the banner of the state seal. The reason Spanish was used rather than English or Latin is not well documented.
What is the only state without a rectangular flag?
Ohio. Its state flag is a swallowtail burgee, while the Montana flag is a standard rectangle.
What is Montana's official flag?
Montana's official flag is a blue field with the Great Seal of the state in the center and the word MONTANA in gold Helvetica Bold letters above it. Golden fringe runs along the top and bottom borders. The design dates to 1905, with the name added in 1981.
Did Montana change its flag?
Only slightly. The 1905 flag carried the seal without the state name, MONTANA was added above it in 1981, and the font was standardized as Helvetica Bold in 1985. Proposals for a completely new design, in 1974-75 and again in 2021, did not pass the legislature.
What was the flag of Montana Territory?
In September 1887 the territorial legislature adopted a flag with a blue field and a white ring around the coat of arms of the territory. Montana did not adopt a state flag until 1905, which was based on a flag made by Harry Kessler in 1895 and carried in the Spanish-American War.
