Language: English Updated: 2026-03-22

Flag of Michigan

Definition
The Flag of Michigan is the official state flag of the U.S. state of Michigan, featuring the state’s coat of arms centered on a dark blue field.

Overview
The current design was adopted by the Michigan Legislature on June 22 1911 and codified in the Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL 2.22). The flag is used in governmental settings, public buildings, schools, and at official state functions. It is displayed alongside the United States flag and is subject to state regulations governing its proper display, dimensions, and handling.

Etymology/Origin
The flag’s design derives from the coat of arms of Michigan, which itself originated from the state’s Great Seal adopted in 1835. The 1911 legislation formalized the flag by specifying that the coat of arms be placed on a plain blue background, a common practice among U.S. state flags of the period. No alternative historical names for the flag are recorded in reliable sources.

Characteristics

Aspect Description
Proportion 10 : 19 (height to width).
Field Dark blue (navy) background representing loyalty and the Union.
Central emblem The state coat of arms, which includes:
  • A shield displaying a man with a plow and a pickaxe, symbolizing agriculture and mining, set against a rising sun over a lake.
  • Supporters: an elk on the left and a moose on the right, representing Michigan’s wildlife.
  • An American bald eagle above the shield, denoting the state’s allegiance to the United States.
  • A ribbon beneath the shield bearing the state motto “Si quaeris peninsulam Amoenam circumspice” (“If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you”).
Colors The flag uses the official state colors (blue, white, gold, green, and brown) as prescribed in the coat of arms; exact shades are not legislatively defined.
Use Flown on state government buildings, in legislative chambers, at public schools, and during official ceremonies. The flag may also be displayed by private citizens on appropriate occasions.
Regulations Michigan law requires the flag to be displayed with the union (U.S. flag) at the same height and to be treated with respect comparable to the national flag. The flag must not be altered, defaced, or used for commercial purposes without proper authorization.

Related Topics

  • Michigan coat of arms – The emblem placed at the center of the flag.
  • Great Seal of Michigan – The original seal from which the coat of arms is derived.
  • List of U.S. state flags – Comparative information on other state flags.
  • State symbols of Michigan – Includes the state bird, flower, and other official emblems.
  • MCL 2.22 – The statutory provision governing the flag’s design and usage.
Browse

More topics to explore