The Flag of Iowa: History, Meaning, and Symbolism

Written by Jennifer Gaeng
Published: December 30, 2022
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Many states in the United States introduced their first flags at the turn of the twentieth century. When it came time to design a flag for Iowa, the Daughters of the American Revolution became involved, as they had in a number of other states. In 1917, Iowa’s flag, a multicolored banner with a white canton, was created by Mrs. Dixie Cornell Gebhardt. In 1921, the Iowa State Legislature formally recognized the flag.

Flag of Iowa History

flag of Iowa

Iowa went without a state flag for 75 years after its founding.

©Ahmed Zaggoudi/Shutterstock.com

1917

During the first 75 years after its founding, Iowa did not have a flag. This was due to an effort to maintain national harmony during and after the American Civil War. During World War I, the Iowa Daughters of the American Revolution were the first to request the creation of a state banner. In 1917, Iowa was only one out of three states without a state flag.

Dixie Cornell Gebhardt, a DAR member from Knoxville, Iowa, was inspired to design the flag after seeing it flown by Iowa guardsmen. The DAR flag committee adopted it on May 1, 1917, and it was accepted on May 11, 1917. It took nearly four more years for the flag to be formally accepted as the state flag of Iowa after it had been submitted.

1918 – 1921

On March 19, 1918, Iowa governor William Lloyd Harding formally approved the flag on the state’s behalf. However, the legislature did not act to adopt it until February 1919. In September 1920, however, the Iowa Daughters re-engaged lawmakers in an effort to get them to adopt the flag, citing high expenditures as the reason it had failed before.

Although it was never formally adopted, the flag was widely used to represent Iowa across the country. It was even displayed with other states’ official flags at Continental Hall, albeit it was clearly labeled as “unofficial.” Representative Horace Mann Towner’s wife thought this was more evidence for formally adopting the flag.

Iowa lawmakers revisited the subject of creating an official flag in January 1921, and by March of that year, they had passed a bill making the flag official.

2001

The NAVA (North American Vexillological Association) selected the flag of the State of Iowa as the 42nd best-designed flag in North America out of all the provincial, state, and territorial flags in use at the time.

Flag of Iowa Design

The pattern is blue, white, and red stripes in three different vertical orientations. If you look at the flag from the side, the blue band is closest to the pole and the white band is in the middle. On the central white stripe, below the blue streamers borne by the spread eagle, is the word “Iowa.” Above the streamers reads, “Our liberty we respect and our rights we shall maintain,” written in white. This is the official state motto of Iowa.

The American bald eagle, which is featured on the flag of Iowa, is also on the flags of eight other states in the United States. This includes:

Flag of Iowa Symbolism

flag of Iowa

The Iowa state flag waving along with the national flag of the United States of America. Iowa is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States.

©rarrarorro/Shutterstock.com

Iowa’s flag, like the French flag, features blue, white, and red from left to right. However, Iowa’s flag has a bigger white part. On the flag are the bald eagle, the country’s national bird and a symbol of independence and liberty. ‘Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain’ reads the long ribbon held by the bird. The State Seal of Iowa uses these same words. The Register added that the red ‘Iowa’ represents an Iowa soldier writing in blood his unwavering commitment to protecting the ideals symbolized by the banner and its glorious motto.

Although Gebhardt took inspiration for the flag’s color scheme from the French tricolor, the blue, white, and red were meant to have additional symbolic weight. The color blue stands for faithfulness, fairness, and honesty. Red stands for bravery while white stands for innocence.

Protocol

The flag should only be flown in official capacities, such as while representing Iowa or identifying Iowans from other states. When presented and hoisted by public officers, the flag must always be flown below and “subservient” to the flag of the United States. When lessons are in session, the banner must be shown in schools, but on non-religious holidays, it may be displayed in public buildings.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © railway fx/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Jennifer Gaeng is a writer at A-Z-Animals focused on animals, lakes, and fishing. With over 15 years of collective experience in writing and researching, Jennifer has honed her skills in various niches, including nature, animals, family care, and self-care. Hailing from Missouri, Jennifer finds inspiration in spending quality time with her loved ones. Her creative spirit extends beyond her writing endeavors, as she finds joy in the art of drawing and immersing herself in the beauty of nature.

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Sources
  1. Britannica, Available here: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-heraldry
  2. Wikipedia, Available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Iowa`
  3. State Symbols USA, Available here: https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/iowa/state-flag/flag-iowa