U.S. state · NH
Flag of New Hampshire
The New Hampshire flag shows the state seal on a dark blue field: the ship Raleigh on the stocks, a granite boulder and a rising sun, framed by a laurel wreath and nine stars. The design was fixed in law in 1931.
What the New Hampshire state flag looks like
The state flag of New Hampshire is a dark blue rectangle with a round seal in the center. The seal is drawn in gold and other natural colors, and a wreath of laurel leaves encircles it. Nine stars are interspersed among the leaves.
Inside the seal are these elements:
- A wooden frigate on the stocks, meaning a ship still under construction.
- A large granite boulder in the foreground.
- A rising sun behind the ship, with the sea and a strip of land.
- A border with the words Seal of the State of New Hampshire and the date 1776 at the bottom.
The flag is a standard 3:2 rectangle.
New Hampshire flag meaning and symbolism
The ship on the stocks is the frigate Raleigh, built in 1776 on the Portsmouth harbor (at Kittery, Maine) as one of the first warships of the Continental Congress. It shows the state's role in shipbuilding and in the American Revolution. The granite boulder refers to New Hampshire's nickname, the Granite State, and the rising sun is often read as a symbol of a new nation.
The date 1776 is the year New Hampshire declared its independence from Great Britain. The nine stars are commonly explained as standing for New Hampshire's place as the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, in 1788. The laurel wreath is a classical symbol of honor and victory. Note that the state motto, Live Free or Die, does not appear on the flag.
History of the New Hampshire flag
New Hampshire regiments carried their own banners in the 1800s, including in the Civil War. The state first set an official flag in 1909, using the state seal on a blue field. A law of 1931 set the present design, with the seal surrounded by a wreath of laurel and nine stars.
The flag has not been changed since 1931. It is a "seal on blue" design, and it is the only U.S. state flag whose seal includes a depiction of the Stars and Stripes. You can compare it with Massachusetts and New Jersey, or see the whole collection of U.S. state flags.
Interesting facts about the New Hampshire flag
- The frigate on the flag is a real ship, the Raleigh, built in 1776 at Kittery, Maine, across the river from Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
- During a naval chaplain's service at sea, the church pennant is flown above the U.S. flag. It is the only flag that may be flown above it.
New Hampshire flag colors
#002A86RGB
0, 42, 134CMYK
100, 69, 0, 47#EFAE0ERGB
239, 174, 14CMYK
0, 27, 94, 6#746A4CRGB
116, 106, 76CMYK
0, 9, 34, 55#2B4171RGB
43, 65, 113CMYK
62, 42, 0, 56New Hampshire flag facts
| Adopted | 1909 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Symbols | Seal of New Hampshire |
| State capital | Concord |
| State motto | Live Free or Die |
| Population | 1,377,529 |
New Hampshire state flag FAQ
What is the boat on the New Hampshire flag?
It is the frigate Raleigh, one of the first warships of the Continental Congress. She was built in 1776 at Kittery, Maine, on Portsmouth harbor, and appears on the stocks in the state seal.
What does the New Hampshire flag represent?
It represents the state's history in shipbuilding and the Revolution, its granite landscape, and, according to the usual explanation, its role as the ninth state to ratify the Constitution.
Why are there nine stars on the New Hampshire flag?
The nine stars are commonly explained as standing for New Hampshire being the ninth state to ratify the Constitution in 1788.
What is the only flag that can fly above the US flag?
The Navy church pennant, which is flown above the national flag during religious services held by naval chaplains on ships.
What does the New Hampshire seal look like?
It shows the Raleigh on the stocks, a granite boulder and a rising sun, with the words Seal of the State of New Hampshire and the date 1776 around the edge.
Is the American flag on the New Hampshire flag?
Yes, in a small way. The Raleigh on the state seal flies the 1777 U.S. flag from its stern staff, which makes New Hampshire the only U.S. state whose flag includes a depiction of the Stars and Stripes. The flag is a blue field with the seal, a laurel wreath and nine stars.
Is New Hampshire changing its flag?
No. Two ideas have been floated without success: a suggestion in 2018 to replace the seal with the Old Man of the Mountain, which collapsed in 2003, and a 2023 bill to add the words Live Free or Die under the seal, which was rejected in February 2024.
Who designed the New Hampshire flag?
The New Hampshire flag was designed by Helen Seavey, who based it on banners carried by the National Guard and an earlier design by Mr. Frisbees. The flag, adopted in 1909, puts the state seal on a blue field, and state law adds the laurel wreath and nine stars around it.
