This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

Washington (U.S.)

Last modified: 2008-06-07 by rick wyatt
Keywords: washington | united states |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors



[Flag of Washington] image by Mario Fabretto, 24 February 1998



Municipal flags


County flags


See also:


In 1890, five stars were added, representing Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Washington, bringing the total number of stars on the U.S. flag to 43. There were thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies.


Legal Description

REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON
1.20.010 State Flag. The official flag of the state of Washington shall be of dark green silk or bunting and shall bear in its center a reproduction of the seal of the state of Washington embroidered, printed, painted or stamped thereon. The edges of the flag may, or may not, be fringed. If a fringe is used the same shall be of gold or yellow color of the same shade as the seal. The dimensions of the flag may vary.

1.20.080 State Seal. The seal of the state of Washington shall be, a seal encircled with the words: "The Seal of the State of Washington," with the vignette of General George Washington as the central figure, and beneath the vignette the figures "1889" and shall be composed as appears in the illustration.

Joe McMillan, 22 February 2000


Specification of Design and Layout

Source:www.secstate.wa.gov/flag/design.aspx?m=undefined,state1

The Legislature adopted the Washington State flag in 1925 and revised it to its present design in 1967 (RCW 1.20.010).

Color Specifications
The following color references by cable number (cloth) and Pantone number (Ink) are those colors in the Standard Color Card of America, Ninth Edition (second issue) of the Textile Color Card Association of the United States, Inc., New York and the Pantone Formula Guide, 1st Edition, 3rd Printing 2001, New Jersey. They are of colorfast washable dyes and substantially the same as the following color references:

  1. Flag Background - Irish Green, Cable #70,168, Pantone PMS 348
  2. State Seal Background -Oriental Blue, Cable #70,209, Pantone PMS 311
  3. State Seal (Portrait, lettering and inner rings) - Black
  4. Gold used in the state seal & fringe (if any) - Nugget Gold, Cable #70,215, Pantone PMS 116
  5. Face of George Washington - PMS 169 (Flesh Tint), Pantone PMS 169
    State Seal Specifications
    An official state seal must appear in the center of each side of the state flag. The seal may not have a serrated edge. Its size shall be selected in proportion to the size of the state flag.
    Flag Size Diameter of Seal
    3' x 5' 19"
    4' x 6' 25"
    5' x 8' 31"

    In all other instances, the ratio of the state seal diameter to the length of the flag shall be 1:3.
    submitted by Zach Harden, 18 June 2002


    State Military Crest

    image by Joe McMillan, 21 April 2000

    The state military crest, which is the crest used in the coats of arms of units of the National Guard, as granted by the precursor organizations of what is now the Army Institute of Heraldry. The official Institute of Heraldry blazon is "A raven with wings endorsed issuing out of a ducal coronet all proper. [From the crest of George Washington.]"
    Joe McMillan, 21 April 2000


    Flag More Costly

    Local flag manufacturers sell this flag for almost double the price of most other state flags because the seal is stitched on both the obverse and reverse of the flag (so that the lettering reads correctly on both sides). This is something my reading up on flags in various books, plus the internet did not inform me about. It was something of a surprise.
    Dean Thomas, 14 January 2002