Minnesota's Flag History

The Minnesota State Flag is a medium blue color with a narrow gold border and a gold fringe. Centered in the medium blue field is a circular emblem with a white background and a yellow border. Within the circular emblem an inner circle surrounds scenes from The Great Seal of the State of Minnesota displayed on a field of medium blue matching that of the general flag. The inner circle is surrounded by 19 five pointed stars representing Minnesota as the 19th state, after the original 13 colonies, to join the union. The stars are arranged in four groups of four stars and one group of three stars at the top of the circle. The top star represents the North Star. The five star groups represent a five pointed star. The word "MINNESOTA" is printed in red letters below the inner circle.

Scenes from the Minnesota State Seal are displayed within the inner circle. Shown is a bare-footed farmer plowing a field. The farmer's axe, gun and powder horn rest on a nearby stump. An Indian rides nearby. The field borders a river with a waterfall. Perhaps you can find this same field near St. Anthony's Falls on the Mississippi River? These scenes are surrounded by intertwined pink and white lady slippers (the state flower) and a red ribbon. Printed in gold letters on the red ribbon are the dates 1819, the year in which Fort Snelling was established, 1893, the year that the flag was officially adopted and "L'ETOILE DU NORD" (Star of the North), the Minnesota
State Motto. Over the seal in gold letters is the date 1858; the date that Minnesota was admitted to the union.

Link here to the Minnesota State Historical Society for facts, figures and history of Minnesota.