U.S. state · PA
Flag of Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania flag displays the state coat of arms on a deep blue field, with two black horses holding up a shield topped by an eagle. The design was made the official state flag in 1907.
What the Pennsylvania state flag looks like
The state flag of Pennsylvania has a deep blue field with the full coat of arms in the center. The arms are built around a shield held up by two black horses, one on each side, rearing on their hind legs. The shield is divided into three parts. At the top is a ship under full sail on a sea, below it a plow, and at the bottom three golden sheaves of wheat.
Above the shield sits an eagle with spread wings. A stalk of maize and an olive branch flank the arms. A ribbon below carries the motto Virtue, Liberty and Independence.
Pennsylvania flag meaning and symbolism
The parts of the coat of arms refer to the economy and values of the state. The ship is commonly read as a symbol of trade and commerce, the plow as agriculture, and the three sheaves of wheat as prosperity. The olive branch and maize are commonly read as symbols of peace and abundance.
The black horses are the feature people ask about most. The horses are commonly said to be a symbol of strength and power. The arms were standardized by a commission in 1874-75 on the basis of a 1778 rendering by Caleb Lownes, and the color of the horses was not fixed until 1875. The motto, Virtue, Liberty and Independence, reflects the ideals of the American Revolution, when the state was a center of the movement. Pennsylvania is also known as the Keystone State, though the keystone is not on the flag.
History of the Pennsylvania flag
In 1799 the General Assembly authorized the use of the state coat of arms on flags for the state militia, and such flags were used for generations. For a long time, however, the depiction of the arms and the flags varied, and there was no single standard.
The state legislature fixed the design by an act approved on June 13, 1907, requiring a blue field, the same blue as in the U.S. flag, with the coat of arms in the center. The arms themselves had been standardized in 1875.
As a flag built around a seal, Pennsylvania belongs to a large group of states with a coat of arms or seal on blue. Compare it with New York and Ohio on the U.S. state flags page.
Flag rules and etiquette in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania follows the national rule that the flag of the United States is flown at the position of honor, above the state flag. The only flag allowed above it under the U.S. Flag Code is the church pennant, during Navy services held at sea.
Pennsylvania flag colors
#00205BRGB
0, 32, 91CMYK
100, 65, 0, 64#2B2B2BRGB
43, 43, 43CMYK
0, 0, 0, 83#0C0C0CRGB
12, 12, 12CMYK
0, 0, 0, 95Pennsylvania flag facts
| Adopted | June 13, 1907 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 19:26 |
| State capital | Harrisburg |
| State motto | Virtue, Liberty, and Independence |
| Population | 13,002,700 |
Pennsylvania state flag FAQ
What do the horses on the Pennsylvania flag mean?
The two black horses are the supporters of the shield in the state coat of arms. They are commonly seen as symbols of strength and power.
What does the Pennsylvania flag symbolize?
The ship, plow and wheat sheaves stand for commerce, farming and prosperity. The motto, Virtue, Liberty and Independence, reflects the ideals of the American Revolution.
What is Pennsylvania's state flag?
It is a dark blue flag with the state coat of arms in the center, officially adopted in 1907.
Is Pennsylvania changing its flag?
The flag has been the same since 1907, and the state has not adopted a new design. Redesign ideas have been raised, including a 2023 proposal in the legislature for a commission to study the flag, but none has been enacted.
What is the only flag that can fly above the U.S. flag?
Under the U.S. Flag Code, only the church pennant may fly above the national flag, and only during Navy chaplain services at sea.
What was the original look of the Pennsylvania state flag?
Before the official flag of 1907, Pennsylvania had no single design. The coat of arms appeared on militia flags authorized in 1799, either in the union of a U.S.-style flag or alone on blue, and its colors varied until the horses' color was fixed in 1875. A 1777 state navy ensign had a blue field with 13 stripes in the corner.
What is unique about Pennsylvania's flag?
Its coat of arms is detailed, with two rearing black horses, a ship, a plow, three wheat sheaves and an eagle. By law it is embroidered on both sides. Flag experts rank it low: a 2001 North American Vexillological Association survey placed it 57th of 72 flags.
