John Lewis illustration of the state flag, c.1811-1813The Pennsylvania state flag depicted inThe Government of the People of the State of Pennsylvania (1902)[1]
On April 9, 1799, thePennsylvania General Assembly authorized the use of thestate coat of arms on flags for the state militia.[2] These flags took various forms over the years, most commonly featuring the coat of arms either replacing the field of stars in the union of theUS flag, or being placed alone on a field of blue. The depiction of the coat of arms would also vary from flag to flag, as the colors in the escutcheon of the arms were changed in 1809, and the color of the horses was not standardized until 1875.[3]
In 1805 Danish painterChristian Gullage was commissioned to paint the state coat of arms on a blue banner. It measured 4 feet by 2 feet, with gold fringe at the bottom.[4]
The legislature eventually chose to create a standardized flag for general use, featuring a now-standardized coat of arms alone on a plain field of blue mandated to be the "same color as the blue field in theflag of the United States".[5] This new flag was enacted by law on June 13, 1907.[6]
Celebration of July 4th, in Centre Square,Philadelphia, 1819. The state flag is flying on the right.
The Pennsylvania flag has been criticized for the complexity of its design, and its inability to stand out from other similar state flags across the US. Several attempts have been made by the Pennsylvania legislature and the public to address these criticisms by changing or altering the flag.
In 2001, theNorth American Vexillological Association surveyed 100 of its members and 337 members of the general public on the designs of the 72U.S. state,U.S. territorial andCanadian provincial flags. The survey ranked Pennsylvania's flag 57th out of the 72, with a score of 3.69 on a scale of 0 to 10.[7] Its low ranking was attributed to both the complexity of the coat of arms on its design, and its inability to stand out among a sea of similar “seal on a bedsheet” designs common to more than half of U.S. state flags.[8]
Attempts to add "Pennsylvania" to the flag (2004–2014)
Between 2004 and 2014, several attempts were made to add the word "Pennsylvania" to the state flag. According to former State Representative Tim Solobay (who introduced the first set of bills), this was intended to make Pennsylvania's flag more unique and identifiable.[9]
While the bill failed to leave committee in the first two sessions it was introduced,[10][11] a 2006 survey offered by Solobay's office[12] to help refine the defined design may have swayed legislators to act on the bill, which was amended on May 7, 2007.[13] On June 11, 2007, The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted in favor of the bill, 164–31.[9] The Senate State Government Committee never considered the bill, which died at the end of the Pennsylvania General Assembly's two-year session.
The bill was reintroduced by Solobay in 2009,[14] and on the next session day, a second similar bill was introduced by former State Representative Gary Haluska with a competing definition of the design.[15] Neither bill was raised in committee that session. Haluska's proposal was reintroduced alone in both the 2011–12[16] and 2013–14 sessions,[17] and died in committee both times.
Proposals to change the flag between 2004 and 2014
2004–2007 proposal,[10][11] adding"the word 'Pennsylvania' to be embroidered upon the flag in yellow silk."
2007–2010 proposal,[13][14]adding the words "Commonwealth Of" to the top and "Pennsylvania" to the bottom of the flag in yellow silk, and arching the lettering around the coat of arms
2009–2014 proposal,[15][16][17]adding the word "Pennsylvania" in yellow silk "centered within a symmetrical red festoon, similar to that containing the State motto; and the festoon to be centered above the bald eagle on the coat of arms."
In 2017 the "Keystone Flag" was designed by Tara Stark, a Pennsylvanian woman.[18][19] The flag incorporates akeystone symbol, thede-facto state emblem of Pennsylvania, into a tricolor design using the colors of thestate's coat of arms[20] as a reference to the symbolism of the existing flag.[21][18]
The flag gained popularity in online vexillological circles, winning multiple online contests, and began receiving wider attention following high-profile changes to theflag of Mississippi and theflag of Utah. The design was formally released into the public domain in August 2022.[22] Stark launched aKickstarter campaign in November 2022 to print flags and create other merchandise featuring the design, raising more than $4,500. The design later began being sold by multiple unrelated manufacturers and has since seen more popular use, including on a lapel pin worn by state representative Izzy Smith-Wade-El,[23] and has been referenced by multiple media outlets.[24][25][26]
On June 16, 2023, Pennsylvania State RepresentativeJoe Webster released a memorandum proposing a commission to "study the history of the state flag, solicit design submissions for a new state flag, and recommend changes to the state flag."[27] A House Resolution was formally introduced later that month, but did not receive a hearing before the legislative session ended.[28] Webster has issued a new memorandum for the 2025-26 session.[29]
A Pennsylvania state flag from 1863, featuring a ring of stars around the coat of arms. It was made in November 1863 by a Philadelphia flag manufacturer for Governor Curtin's use during the Gettysburg National Cemetery's dedication on November 19, 1863.[30]
A Pennsylvania state flag that may have been used by a National Guard unit duringWorld War I, depicting a white scroll instead of the red one used today.
The Pennsylvania state flag as depicted in the 1976 bicentennial postage stamp series.
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![2007–2010 proposal,[13][14] adding the words "Commonwealth Of" to the top and "Pennsylvania" to the bottom of the flag in yellow silk, and arching the lettering around the coat of arms](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aFlag_of_Pennsylvania_with_Yellow_Lettering_(2007_Proposal).svg)
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![A Pennsylvania state flag from 1863, featuring a ring of stars around the coat of arms. It was made in November 1863 by a Philadelphia flag manufacturer for Governor Curtin's use during the Gettysburg National Cemetery's dedication on November 19, 1863.[30]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aPennsylvania_State_Flag_1863.jpg)
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![1747 flag of Pennsylvania Associators[31] (now the modern 111th Infantry Regiment and 28th Infantry Division) designed by Ben Franklin. (Colors, if any, unknown)](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3a1747_Pennsylvania_Associators_Flag_(reconstruction).png)
![Flag of First Troop, Philadelphia Light Horse,[32] a Pennsylvania cavalry unit created just before the Revolutionary War](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aFlag_of_the_First_Troop_Philadelphia_City_Cavalry.png)
