Indiana State
Flag
Adopted on May 31, 1917.
The flag of Indiana was designed by Paul Hadley and officially adopted by the state of Indiana on May 31, 1917. It was the state's first official flag and has remained unchanged since then except for the creation of a statute to standardize the production of the flag.
The flag consists of a gold torch that represents liberty and enlightenment; the rays around the torch represent their far-reaching influence. The nineteen stars represent Indiana's place as the nineteenth state to join the United States. The thirteen stars in the outer loop symbolize the original Thirteen Colonies, the five inner stars represent the next five states added to the Union, and the one large star above the torch represents Indiana.
The Indiana State Flag
The blue and gold state banner was adopted by the 1917 General Assembly as part of the commemoration of the state's 1916 Centennial celebration, after a competition sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The winning design was by Paul Hadley of Mooresville, Indiana. On May 31, 1917, the flag was chosen as the state's official banner. The General Assembly made only one change to Hadley's original design, they added the word Indiana, in a crescent shape, over the top of the torch. The state banner was later renamed the state's flag in a new statute passed in 1955 that also standardized the dimensions of the flag
The flags dimensions shall be three feet fly by two feet hoist; or five feet fly by three feet hoist; or any size proportionate to either of those dimensions. The field of the flag shall be blue with nineteen stars and a flaming torch in gold or buff. Thirteen stars shall be arranged in an outer circle, representing the original thirteen states; five stars shall be arranged in a half circle below the torch and inside the outer circle of stars, representing the states admitted prior to Indiana; and the nineteenth star, appreciably larger than the others and representing Indiana shall be placed above the flame of the torch. The outer circle of stars shall be so arranged that one star shall appear directly in the middle at the top of the circle, and the word "Indiana" shall be placed in a half circle over and above the star representing Indiana and midway between it and the star in the center above it. Rays shall be shown radiating from the torch to the three stars on each side of the star in the upper center of the circle.
The Flag is always displayed on the observer's right of the American flag.
Indiana Flag Law
Indiana Code, Title 1, Article 2.
TITLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
ARTICLE 2. STATE EMBLEMS.
CHAPTER 2. STATE FLAG.
IC 1-2-2-1
Design and dimensions
Sec. 1. A state flag is hereby adopted, and the same shall be of the following design and dimensions,
to-wit: Its dimensions shall be three (3) feet fly by two (2) feet hoist; or five (5) feet
fly by three (3) feet hoist; or any size proportionate to either of those dimensions. The field
of the flag shall be blue with nineteen (19) stars and a flaming torch in gold or buff. Thirteen
(13) stars shall be arranged in an outer circle, representing the original thirteen (13) states;
five (5) stars shall be arranged in a half circle below the torch and inside the outer circle
of stars, representing the states admitted prior to Indiana; and the nineteenth star, appreciably
larger than the others and representing Indiana shall be placed above the flame of the torch.
The outer circle of stars shall be so arranged that one (1) star shall appear directly in the
middle at the top of the circle, and the word "Indiana" shall be placed in a half circle over
and above the star representing Indiana and midway between it and the star in the center above
it. Rays shall be shown radiating from the torch to the three (3) stars on each side of the
star in the upper center of the circle.
Township trustees, boards of school trustees and boards of school commissioners of the various
school corporations of this state, and board of county commissioners of the several counties
of the state, may procure a state flag for each school and for each courthouse under their
respective supervision and cause the same to be placed conspicuously in the principal room
or assembly hall and any courtroom of any such building or courthouse.
(Formerly: Acts 1917, c.114, s.1; Acts 1955, c.146, s.1.) As amended by Acts 1979, P.L.1, SEC.1.
IC 1-2-2-2
Military forces; public functions
Sec. 2. The banner described in section 1 of this chapter shall be regulation, in addition
to the American flag, with all of the militia forces of the state of Indiana, and in all public
functions in which the state may or shall officially appear.
(Formerly: Acts 1917, c.114, s.2.) As amended by Acts 1982, P.L.2, SEC.3.
Chapter 3. Display and Distribution of State Flag
IC 1-2-3-1
State capitol; display
Sec. 1. A new and different Indiana state flag shall be displayed at the state capitol building
on each and every day whenever practicable and feasible.
(Formerly: Acts 1967, c.162, s.1.) As amended by Acts 1979, P.L.1, SEC.2.
IC 1-2-3-2
Storing flags; request for flags
Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the commissioner of the department of administration to receive
and store every flag displayed pursuant to section 1 of this chapter following such display.
Upon receipt of a request of a member of the Indiana general assembly, the commissioner shall
forward to the individual, group, organization, association, or other entity indicated in the
legislator's request one (1) of the state flags displayed according to section 1 of this chapter.
The commissioner shall forward such flags in the same order as the requests are received by
him.
(Formerly: Acts 1967, c.162, s.2.) As amended by Acts 1982, P.L.2, SEC.4.
IC 1-2-3-3
Legislator's request for flags
Sec. 3. Each and every member of the Indiana general assembly shall be entitled to request
and have sent, during any one (1) period of three hundred (300) days, two (2) of the state
flags displayed pursuant to section 1 of this chapter. In the event that any flags are not
sent at the request of a legislator before December 31, 1967, or at the end of any subsequent
period of three hundred (300) days, they shall be delivered to the lieutenant governor of the
state of Indiana by the commissioner of the department of administration to be disposed of
at the lieutenant governor's discretion. Provided, however, that any member of the Indiana
general assembly may purchase from the department of administration any other state flag which
may have been manufactured in state industries at a price not to exceed the actual cost of
each of said flags.
(Formerly: Acts 1967, c.162, s.3.) As amended by Acts 1982, P.L.2, SEC.5.
IC 1-2-3-4 Repealed
(Repealed by Acts 1972, P.L.13, SEC.1.)
IC 1-2-3-5
Display at state supported institutions
Sec. 5. Each and every institution supported in whole or in part by state funds shall display
the state flag in a prominent place upon its property.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.2, SEC.1.)
IC 1-2-3-6
Retiring and disposal of state flag
Sec. 6. A state flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting
emblem for display, should be destroyed using the same method provided for the retiring and
disposing of the flag of the United States under 4 U.S.C. 8(k).
(As added by P.L.163-2003, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.2-2005, SEC.1.)
The Flags of the US.
