View source for Flag of Wyoming

{{Short description|U.S. state flag}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Wyoming
| Image = Flag of Wyoming.svg
| Nickname = 
| Use = 110000
| Symbol = {{FIAV|110000}}{{FIAV|normal}}{{FIAV|Mirror}}
| Proportion = 7:10
| Adoption = {{Start date and age|1917|1|31}}
| Design = A dark blue field bordered by white and red; in the centre is the white silhouette of a [[bison]] bearing the state seal.
| Designer = Verna Keays
}}

The '''flag of Wyoming''' was officially adopted to represent the [[U.S. state]] of [[Wyoming]] on January 31, 1917. The flag consists of the [[silhouette]] of an [[American bison]], a symbol of fidelity, justice, and virility. The bison also represents the local fauna; the intricate state [[Seal of Wyoming|seal]] on it is not of such bold design.<ref name="Znamierowski2006" /> The red symbolizes both the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] and the blood of [[American pioneer|pioneers]] who gave their lives. Thoroughout white is a symbol of purity and uprightness; the blue is the color of the skies and distant [[Rocky Mountains|mountains]].

==Statute==
[[File:Wyoming State Flag.jpg|thumb|200px|Flag of Wyoming flying below the [[Flag of the United States|United States flag]].]]
[[File:Wyoming Bicentennial 13c 1976 issue.jpg|thumb|200px|The Wyoming state flag as depicted in the 1976 bicentennial postage stamp series.]]

The 2024 Wyoming Statutes, Title 8, Chapter 3, § 8-3-102 defines the state flag as follows:
{{blockquote|text=The width of the flag shall be seven-tenths (7/10) of its length; the outside border shall be in red, the width of which shall be one-twentieth (1/20) of the length of the flag; next to the border shall be a stripe of white on the four (4) sides of the field, which shall be in width one-fortieth (1/40) of the length of the flag. The remainder of the flag shall be a blue field, in the center of which shall be a white silhouetted buffalo, the length of which shall be one-half (1/2) of the length of the blue field; the other measurements of the buffalo shall be in proportion to its length. On the ribs of the buffalo shall be the great seal of the state of Wyoming in blue. The seal shall be in diameter one-fifth (1/5) the length of the flag. Attached to the flag shall be a cord of gold with gold tassels. The same colors shall be used in the flag, red, white and blue, as are used in the flag of the United States of America.<ref name="WY83102">{{cite web |title=Wyoming Statutes § 8-3-102 — Adoption, Use and Specifications of State Flag; Penalty for Misuse |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/wyoming/title-8/chapter-3/section-8-3-102/ |website=Justia US Law |access-date=2025-12-04}}</ref>
}}

=== Design of the seal ===
{{Main|Seal of Wyoming}}

The great seal of Wyoming, as defined in the 2024 Wyoming Statutes, Title 8, Chapter 3, § 8-3-101, is as follows:<ref name="WY83101">{{cite web |title=Wyoming Statutes § 8-3-101 — Great Seal of the State of Wyoming |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/wyoming/title-8/chapter-3/section-8-3-101/ |website=Justia US Law |access-date=2025-12-04}}</ref>
*Circular seal with the outer rim inscribed "Great Seal of the State of Wyoming"
*Central pedestal with an eagle resting on a shield, the shield bearing a star and the number "44"
*Draped female figure modeled on the Louvre's "Victory," standing on the pedestal and holding a staff with a banner reading "Equal Rights," with broken chains hanging from her wrists
*Male figures flanking the pedestal representing the livestock and mining industries
*Two pillars in the background, each supporting a lighted lamp
*Scrolls around the pillars inscribed "Livestock" and "Grain" (right) and "Mines" and "Oil" (left)
*Dates "1869–1890" at the base of the pedestal

=== Symbolism ===
The symbolism of the Wyoming state seal as detailed in the statute reflects both the state's history and values: the eagle and shield represent the United States and Wyoming's position as the 44th state; the central female figure embodies the political position and rights of women, with broken chains signifying freedom and progress; the male figures symbolize the key industries of livestock and mining; the two pillars and lamps signify the light of knowledge; the scrolls identify the primary economic sectors; and the dates "1869–1890" mark the organization of the Wyoming Territory and the state's admission to the Union.<ref name="WY83101"/>

==History==
===Pre-official flags (before 1917)===
According to ''The Wyoming Commonwealth'', during the 1890 Admission day paraded in [[Cheyenne, Wyoming|Cheyenne]], a lady named Mrs. Fannie Oilerenshaw carried with her what was described as a state flag.<ref>[https://wyomingnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=WYWCW18900727-01.1.1&srpos=26&e=-------en-20--21--img-txIN-regiment+flag+banner-------0------ The Wyoming Commonwealth, July 27, 1890]</ref> The design was not described. Another mention of a state flag was in 1910. It was being sent to the Virginia Fair by Adjutant General P. A. Gatchell.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Rocky Mountain News (Daily) October 3, 1910 — Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19101003-01.2.130&srpos=59&e=--1859---1939--en-20--41--img-txIN%7CtxCO%7CtxTA-%22state+flag%22-------2------ |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org}}</ref> The flag was not described.

[[File:Proposed flag of Wyoming (Frederick, 1911).svg|thumb|200px|{{FIAV|Proposal}} Depiction of Rep. Frederick's 1911 proposal, based on the description]]
In February of 1911, a bill was introduced by Representative Pep Frederick to the house to proposed a state flag.<ref>[https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn92067125/1911-02-22/ed-1/?sp=5&q=state+flag&r=0.173,0.737,0.405,0.17,0 Bill Barlow's budget, February 22, 1911]</ref><ref>[https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn92066980/1911-02-18/ed-1/?sp=4&q=state+flag&r=-0.053,0.824,0.624,0.263,0 The Laramie Republican, February 18, 1911]</ref> The bill didn't pass the house with the state not having an official flag for another 6 years. The flag was described as:

{{Blockquote|text=Said FLAG shall consist of three alternate stripes of pale blue and white bunting, silk, or other appropriate material; said stripes to be equal width and parallel with the staff, the white stripe being the middle one and to have in its longitudinal center a correct outline or color reproduction of the STATE SEAL whose diameter shall be five-sixth's... of the width of the white stripe; the proportion of the flag being a width of two-thirds... its length. |title=H.B. No. 0197 A Bill for an Act providing to create a STATE FLAG for the STATE of WYOMING <ref>{{cite web|title=HB0197|url=https://wyomingdigitalcollections.ptfs.com/aw-server/rest/product/purl/WSL/i/4576a4c3-fdd0-4a89-8671-a208ac89f8be}} </ref>}}

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===Current flag (1917–present)===
[[File:Flag_of_Wyoming.png|thumb|200px|{{FIAV|historical}} Verna Keays' original design]]
[[File:Flag_of_Wyoming_(1926).png|thumb|200px|The Wyoming state flag presented to [[United States Post Office Department|the Post Office Department]] by a delegation from Wyoming, 1926]]

In 1916, the Wyoming [[Daughters of the American Revolution]] (DAR) ran a contest inviting the public to submit possible designs for a Wyoming [[flag]]. A prize of $20 ({{inflation|US|20|1916|fmt=eq}}){{inflation/fn|US}} was offered to the winner, and the DAR received a total of 37 entries. They chose a drawing by Verna Keays, a recent graduate of the [[Art Institute of Chicago]]. On January 31, 1917, Governor [[Robert D. Carey]] signed the state flag bill into law and the bison flag was officially adopted.

DAR regent [[Grace Raymond Hebard]], a professor at the [[University of Wyoming]], suffragist and scholar, contributed suggestions for changes after the design had been accepted. In Keays' original design, the one approved by [[Wyoming]]'s legislature, the bison faces toward the fly, symbolizing its former freedom to roam the plains of Wyoming. Hebard thought that if the bison were to face toward the [[Hoist (flag)|hoist]], the design would be more balanced (animals generally face the hoist on flags, as they would the wind). In the end, all Wyoming flags from the first batch produced onward showed the bison facing the hoist, although this change was never officially adopted by the Wyoming legislature.<ref>World Trade Press, [http://www.atoztheusa.com/states2.asp?nid=1&cid=54 A to Z the USA: Wyoming]{{Dead link|date=November 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

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==Other flags==
<gallery widths="330">
File:Wyoming statehood Flag (1890).png|44 star American flag flown to celebrated Wyoming statehood<ref>{{Cite web |title=A rare 44-Star American National Flag commemorating Wyoming statehood Patent date August 12, 1890 |url=https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/freemans/a-rare-44-star-american-national-flag-commemorating-wyoming-statehood-patent-date-august-12-1890-2476635 |access-date=2025-09-09 |website=www.bidsquare.com |language=en}}</ref>
File:1st Wyoming Volunteer Infantry Battalion flag (1898).png|Flag carried by 1st Wyoming Volunteer Infantry Battalion during the [[Spanish–American War|Spanish-American War]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ogden Daily Standard {{!}} 1898-06-05 {{!}} Page 1 {{!}} The Troops at Cheyenne |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=7622188 |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=newspapers.lib.utah.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref>[https://wyomuseum.wyo.gov/index.php/news-article-list/221-state-museum-1898-spanish-american-war-flag-returns?TSPD_101_R0=08c21012b1ab200083cbf80ee747c36190ab6501a53b544347e0fd6d5ebf30115aea739c0ea3658508f4276f9c1430005996a855125aa16b041d0beb5e618040f925cb7c7da609a8497a5b775a2f01bbd02aba41846195cced7d94bba11b3dd6#:~:text=The%20Wyoming%20State%20Museum%20Spanish%2DAmerican%20War%20flag,to%20the%201st%20Wyoming%20Volunteer%20Infantry%20Battalion. State Museum 1898 Spanish-American War Flag returns]</ref>
</gallery>{{clear}}

==References==
<references>
<ref name="Znamierowski2006">{{cite book |last=Znamierowski |first=A |title=The World Encyclopedia of Flags: The Definitive Guide to International Flags, Banners, Standards and Ensigns |page=199 |publisher=Anness Publishing |year=2006}}</ref>
</references>

==External links==
*{{FOTW|id=us-wy|title=Wyoming (U.S.)}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTpZBi6JnpE&list=PL-tu1e4vP47lo-TYzTwIx-ZncOrYEkNlE&index=3 Rebecca Keays on Verna Keays Keyes & State Flag Design, Women of Wyoming, Then & Now], Wyoming Historical Society

{{US state flags}}
{{Wyoming}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wyoming, Flag of}}
[[Category:United States state flags]]
[[Category:Symbols of Wyoming|Flag]]
[[Category:Daughters of the American Revolution]]
[[Category:Bison in art]]
[[Category:1917 establishments in Wyoming]]
[[Category:Flags displaying animals]]
[[Category:Flags with blue, red and white]]
[[Category:Flags adopted through competition]]
[[Category:Flags with stars]]
[[Category:Flags with circles]]


{{Wyoming-stub}}
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