U.S. state · WA
Flag of Washington State
The Washington state flag is a dark green field with the state seal in the center, showing a portrait of George Washington. It is the only U.S. state flag that features a president, and it may have an optional gold fringe.
What the Washington state flag looks like
The flag of Washington is a deep green rectangle with the state seal in the center. The seal is a portrait of George Washington, based on the well-known painting by Gilbert Stuart, inside a ring with the words The Seal of the State of Washington and the date 1889.
The flag may be finished with gold fringe around the edge. The aspect ratio is 5:8 (1:1.6). Washington's is the only U.S. state flag with a green field, and the only one with the likeness of a U.S. president. For others, see the full list of U.S. state flags.
Washington state flag meaning and symbolism
The seal honors George Washington, the first president of the United States, for whom the state is named. Putting his portrait on the flag stresses the connection of the state to the nation. Washington is the only state named for a president, and the state is also the only one with a portrait of one on its banner.
According to Senator Guy B. Groff, sponsor of the 1923 bill that adopted the flag, the green field represented the "verdant fields" of Western Washington, while the gold seal represented the "wheat areas" of Eastern Washington.
History of the Washington state flag
Washington became the 42nd state in 1889, and its seal was adopted at the constitutional convention on August 21, 1889. The state had no official flag at the time. Around 1900 a military flag with a gold profile of George Washington on blue bunting was used, and a purple or green flag bearing the state seal in gold was another popular design. In 1915 the Washington chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution designed a green flag with the state seal in the center and later campaigned for its adoption.
The legislature officially adopted the flag on March 5, 1923. It has had minor revisions since: a gold fringe replaced the green one in the 1920s, standardized colors were issued in 1955, and a modernized seal was added in 1967. In 2001 the North American Vexillological Association survey ranked the flag 47th out of 72, and a bill to form a redesign committee was proposed in 2025. You can also compare it to the flag of the United States.
Washington flag colors
#00843DRGB
0, 132, 61CMYK
100, 0, 54, 48#05C3DERGB
5, 195, 222CMYK
98, 12, 0, 13#FECD00RGB
254, 205, 0CMYK
0, 19, 100, 0Washington flag facts
| Adopted | March 5, 1923 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 5:8 |
| Symbols | Seal of the State of Washington |
| State capital | Olympia |
| State motto | Al-ki |
| Population | 7,705,281 |
Washington state flag FAQ
Why does the Washington state flag have George Washington on it?
The state is named for him, and the seal that sits in the center of the flag carries his portrait. It was chosen in 1889 when Washington joined the Union.
Is Washington state getting a new flag?
No change has been adopted. The 1923 flag is still the official state flag. A bill to form a committee to propose a new design was introduced in 2025, and any new design would need a referendum to be adopted.
What is the only flag that can fly above the US flag?
Under the U.S. Flag Code, no state flag is flown above the national flag. The usual exceptions are the United Nations flag at its headquarters and the church pennant during religious services at sea.
What color is the Washington state flag?
The field is dark green, with the state seal at the center and an optional gold fringe. The green field was said to represent the verdant fields of Western Washington.
Has the WA state flag ever been changed?
Yes, only in small ways. The legislature adopted the green flag with the state seal on March 5, 1923. A gold fringe replaced the green fringe in the 1925-26 session, standardized colors were issued in 1955, and a redesigned seal based on Gilbert Stuart's portrait came in 1967.
What is special about the Washington state flag?
It is the only U.S. state flag with a green field and the only one showing a historic person, George Washington. Its seal portrait is based on Gilbert Stuart's painting. Experts rank it low, though: a 2001 North American Vexillological Association survey put it 47th of 72 flags.
