The State Flag of Indiana

The state of Indiana was adopted into the United States of America on December 11, 1816 as the 19th state. The state flag did not come to fruition until the year 1916, and was the result of a contest to design the flag. A state flag commemorates and celebrates the history and traditions of each individual state. Even though the United States is a single country, it is important for each state to recognize that it is unique and part of a larger whole.

The contest to adopt the flag

In 1916, the state of Indiana held a centennial ceremony celebrating its 100 years of being a part of the United States. A contest was held by the Indiana society of the Daughters of the American Revolution to come up with a flag that would represent the state, and serve as its banner. The winner of the contest was to receive a cash reward of $100, which brought in hundreds of submissions. Paul Hadley was ultimately declared the winner, and the banner was later renamed the state flag.

The meaning behind the flag

The flag has a gold torch, a symbol of liberty and enlightenment, which is surrounded by outward gold rays representing the influence of these virtues. There are also 19 stars on the flag that is a direct representation of Indiana as the 19th state adopted into the Union. These stars are arranged in a circle of 13 stars, representing the 13 original colonies, and six more stars fill in the inside. The largest star of the 19 is located just above the torch, which represents Indiana itself.

Indiana has a history of rich tradition that is displayed for all to see in its state flag. Each state in the United States of America has its own representation on a flag, and Indiana is no different.