Washington Flag

The flag of Washington is the only U.S. state flag featuring a dark green field and the only one displaying a portrait of a historical figure. Its central element is the state seal, which is a complex, circular design rendered in gold/yellow and placed directly on the green background without any additional borders or embellishments.

The design is a seal on a bedsheet (SOB) type, a common but often criticized style in U.S. vexillology for its complexity and poor visibility at a distance. The choice of dark green is said to represent the Evergreen State, a nickname referencing Washington's abundant forests.

Unlike most state flags, it does not incorporate the color blue, making its color scheme of green and gold distinctive. The flag's official specifications mandate precise details for the seal's imagery, including the portrait of George Washington and the surrounding text.

The flag's primary meaning is derived from the Great Seal of the State of Washington. The central portrait of George Washington, the nation's first president for whom the state is named, is the most prominent symbol. The dark green field symbolizes the state's nickname, The Evergreen State, and its vast evergreen forests.

The outer ring of the seal bears the text 'The Seal of the State of Washington' and the date 1889, the year Washington achieved statehood. Within the inner circle, surrounding the portrait, are depictions of agricultural and industrial symbols, though these are often indistinguishable when the flag is flying.

The flag was adopted in 1923, over 30 years after statehood, following a design competition held by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The winning design, created by Charles Talcott, was a simple green flag with the state seal. Talcott, an engraver, reportedly used a postage stamp bearing George Washington's portrait as a model for the seal's central image.

The design was officially standardized by the legislature in 1925. Minor modifications to the seal's details have occurred, but the fundamental design of a green field with a gold seal has remained constant since its adoption.