Welcome to TheseUnitedStates - Utah Flags

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About the Utah State Flag

On January 4, 1896, with a stroke of President Grover Cleveland's pen, Utah became the 45th state of the Union.  In April of that year, the Utah state legislature approved as the official state seal a design created by Utah artist Harry Edwards.  The central feature of the seal is a shield of gold outline.  Perched atop the shield is a bald eagle, its wings outspread as a symbol of protection in peace and war.  The top portion of the shield is pierced by six arrows, three pointing outward on each side.  Beneath the crossed arrows is the state motto, "Industry," a tribute to the Mormon pioneers and others who turned the Utah desert into a bountiful and productive land through their toil and determination.

The prominent feature of the shield is a beehive, further symbolism of Utah's dedication to  commerce and hard work.  On either side of the beehive are sego lilies, the state flower of Utah and a sacred Native American symbol of peace.  The sego lily's bulbs are edible, feeding many a hungry pioneer, and Native Americans before them.  Below the beehive, the name Utah is inscribed in white.  The shield is ensconced in draperies of the Stars and Stripes, hanging from golden flagpoles, expressing the patriotism of Utah citizens.  The date 1847 in white appears directly below the shield, commemorating the arrival of Brigham Young's Mormon settlers in Utah.  Below this, in larger white numbering, the date 1896 recalls Utah's admission to the Union.  

The original Utah state flag was made by the Utah State Society Daughters of the American Revolution at the request of Governor Heber M. Wells; it was embroidered by USSDAR member Agnes Teudt Fernelius.  This first flag was made of Utah silk, reportedly harvested from native silk worms that were raised in the homes of local pioneer women.  It was woven by hand on Utah looms and colored with a brilliant blue dye produced by native plants.  Each member of the USSDAR contributed one dollar to help pay for the flag.  

In 1903 it was determined that Mrs. Fernelius' embroidery contained a mistake in the state seal.  The USSDAR brought their flag to artist H.L.A. Culmer and asked him to make the necessary correction.  A new flag resulted from this effort.  Upon its presentation to the Governor, he replied that "It will be my pleasure to display this flag upon every important occasion where the Governor's flag may be required, both at the World's Fair in St. Louis in celebration of the Louisiana Purchase and elsewhere during my incumbency."  This flag was used until 1913.

In 1912 a second flag was commissioned by the Sons and Daughters of Utah Pioneers for presentation to the battleship USS Utah.  It was made by an eastern man, who placed a thin gold circle around the design.  The addition of this ring was generally thought to beautify the design, and this version was officially adopted as the Utah state flag in 1913.  The flag is fringed in gold on three sides.

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