U.S. state · WI
Flag of Wisconsin
The Wisconsin flag is a dark blue field with the state coat of arms in the center. A sailor and a farmer flank the shield, a badger sits above it, and the motto "Forward" appears above. The name and the year 1848 appear in white.
What the Wisconsin flag looks like
The state flag of Wisconsin is dark blue with the coat of arms in the middle. The shield is divided into four sections with tools: a plow for farming, a pick and shovel for mining, an arm holding a hammer for manufacturing, and an anchor for shipping. A small U.S. shield in the center carries the motto E Pluribus Unum.
A sailor and a yeoman (farmer) stand on either side of the shield. Above it is a badger, the state animal, with the word Forward. At the base are a cornucopia and a pyramid of pig lead. The word Wisconsin is written above the arms and 1848 below, both in white letters.
Wisconsin flag meaning and symbolism
The symbols present the work of the people who built the state. The plow, the pick, the hammer and the anchor stand for farming, mining, industry and navigation on the Great Lakes. The sailor and the yeoman, the two figures people often ask about, represent labor on water and labor on land. The cornucopia symbolizes abundance, and the pyramid of pig lead stands for mineral wealth.
The badger on top is the state animal. The motto Forward sits above it. The shield's central motto E Pluribus Unum ties the state to the United States.
History of the Wisconsin flag
Wisconsin became the 30th state in 1848, which is the year shown on the flag. The flag was first adopted in 1863 through Joint Resolution 4, following requests from Civil War regiments for battlefield use, with the coat of arms on a dark blue field. The design was formally added to the state statutes in 1913.
In 1979 the flag was modified to add the name and the year of statehood, to distinguish it from the many other blue U.S. state flags. The new design was to take effect on May 1, 1981. For comparison, see other U.S. state flags.
Wisconsin flag colors
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0, 0, 0, 0Wisconsin flag facts
| Adopted | 1863 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| State capital | Madison |
| State motto | Forward |
| Population | 5,893,718 |
Wisconsin state flag FAQ
Who are the two men on the Wisconsin flag?
They are a sailor and a yeoman (farmer), shown on either side of the shield. They stand for labor on the water and labor on the land.
What do the symbols on the Wisconsin flag mean?
The plow, pick and shovel, arm and hammer, and anchor stand for agriculture, mining, manufacturing and navigation. The badger is the state animal, and Forward is the state motto.
What is the motto on the Wisconsin flag?
The motto is Forward. A smaller E Pluribus Unum appears on the shield.
What is a nickname for Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is called the Badger State, and the badger, the state animal, appears on the flag.
What did the old Wisconsin flag look like?
The 1863 flag was the state coat of arms centered on a dark blue field, with no lettering. In 1979 the law added the word WISCONSIN above the arms and the year 1848 below in white, to tell it apart from other blue state flags. Flags made after May 1, 1981 had to use the new design.
What colors are on the Wisconsin flag?
State law calls for a royal blue field, with the word WISCONSIN and the year 1848 in white. The coat of arms is in full color, and optional trim is yellow knotted fringe. The arms combine gold, red, white and blue on the shield with a badger, a sailor and a yeoman.
