Flag of Oregon

The flag of Oregon is a two-sided flag in navy blue and gold with an optional gold fringe. On the front is the escutcheon from the state seal, and on the reverse is a gold figure of a beaver, the state animal. Oregon is the only U.S. state to feature different designs on either side of its flag.

Statute

The 2023 Oregon Revised Statutes, Volume 5, Chapter 186, § 186.010, defines that the state flag shall:

Design of the escutcheon

The design of the escutcheon is described through the law defining the state seal (OR Rev Stat § 186.010), which provides the following description:

Design and symbolism

The navy blue flag field with lettering and symbols in gold, represents the state colors of Oregon. The 33 stars surrounding the shield represents Oregon's admission to the Union as the 33rd state. Below the shield is written 1859, the year in which Oregon became a state. is the only country that still has a two-sided flag. Two-sided flags were previously more common, but have been reduced due to increased costs of manufacturing a flag with two different designs.

It is one of nine U.S. state flags to feature an eagle, alongside those of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming.

History

Flags similar to the official flag have been in use since as early as 1888.

A banner was used to represent the state during the Panama–Pacific International Exposition in 1915. The front of the banner had a white background with the state seal in the center. The word "OREGON" was placed above the seal and the words "Exposition 1915" were placed below the seal. The backside contained the American flag.

thumb|left|200px|A flag depicted in National Geographic, 1917

A 1917 issue of National Geographic Magazine on U.S. state flags featured a state flag with a blue background, in the center is a multi-colored state seal on a white oval disc.

On April 18, 1920, the National society of daughters of the American revolution was holding a convention in Washington D.C. with representatives from the state being sent. The delegates carried with them a state flag that made from funds raised by the local chapters in the state. The flag was described as being 3 x 5 feet, having a blue field with the state seal in the center and a yellow stripe running around the border of the flag.

In September of 1920, members of American legion used a state flag that bore a white field with a golden state seal in the center.

Current flag (1925–present)

thumb|Presentation of the state flag at unknown event, July 7, 1925.

The current flag of Oregon was officially adopted on February 26, 1925. What is believed to be the first officially produced flag of Oregon was made that year by Meier & Frank, sewn by Marjorie Kennedy and Blanche Cox, employees of the department store. That flag was donated to Eastern Oregon University in 1954 by the grandson of former governor Walter M. Pierce.

In 1926, a veterans organization was given a unique state flag. This flag was the same as the normal state flag except it had the organization's name in place of the state name, and the backside depicted the United Spanish War Veterans seal instead of a beaver.

Gallery

File:Flags-of-usa-and-oregon.jpg|The flags of the United States and Oregon in Portland, Oregon

File:With flags flying (6100256919).jpg|The Oregon flag flying above Fremont Bridge in Portland

File:Oregon Guardsmen help distribute medical supplies (49775222251).jpg|Oregon Guardsmen with the state flag

File:Oregon Bicentennial 13c 1976 issue.jpg|The Oregon state flag as depicted in the 1976 bicentennial postage stamp series

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Proposed change

thumb|Jean-Claude Muller's proposed flag (1976)

As part of the United States Bicentennial in 1976, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art held a nationwide contest for new flags for American states, cities and other entities. A panel of judges selected 25 of the best designs to be displayed at various exhibitions around the United States. Among the selected designs was a proposed flag for Oregon, designed by Jean-Claude Muller. It consisted of a pattern of nine green triangles against a background of three vertical stripes of blue-white-blue, symbolising the forest, the ocean and the lakes of the state. Although it was hoped that the winning designs might be considered for adoption by their respective entities, no flags from this contest were ever officially adopted.

In anticipation of the Oregon Sesquicentennial in 2009, The Oregonian organized a statewide contest in 2008 to redesign the state flag. The newspaper collected and published the entries with the public voting on the winning design. The winning design was created by Randall Gray, a map maker for Clackamas County. In his design, Gray emphasized the beaver found on the current flag's reverse. The star represents Oregon's place in the Union while the green represents the natural wilderness and forests of Oregon. This bill was sponsored by state Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson, on behalf of Gresham resident Matt Norquist, who lobbied for the flag's change.

thumb|Matt Norquist's proposed flag (2013)

The bill describes the proposed design as follows:

Militia flags

In 1839, Thomas J. Farnham, the leader of the Oregon Dragoons, had his wife make a flag for them. The flag was described as a large American flag with the motto "Oregon or the grave."

In 1888, Adjutant-General of the Oregon state guard ordered 3 regimental flags, with one of them having been given to Company F. The flags were described as "made of blue silk, with the seal of Oregon, in the center". They costed $250 ($8,459.61 today) each to make.

thumb|Regimental colors of the 2nd Oregon Infantry, 1906

In 1895, 3 flags were given to the 2nd Oregon infantry regiment. One of them had a blue field with the coat of arms and the name of the regiment in the middle. The whole thing measured 6 x 6 feet.

In 1908, two flags were produced by order from the American Consul-General in Shanghai, China. The flags were to be sent to China for use by the Shanghai Volunteer Corps. One flag was the American flag, and the other was a regimental banner that was described as "5 1/2 feet by 4 1/2 feet... The arms of the state of Oregon are done in oil upon blue silk field.” According to the Morning Oregonian, this flag design was the same as the regimental flags used by the state Guard.

In January 1918, the University of Oregon had constructed a unique flag for their ROTC. It was described as "Yellow silk...10 feet by 4 feet, with an Oregon state seal appliquéd in the center. A border of Oregon grape... embroidered around the edge, and heavy gold fringe…” In 1929 the University ordered a new flag for the organization. The flag contained a blue field with the state's seal in the center with a gold scroll underneath. In the scroll was the inscription: "Reserve Officers Training Corps." The flag measured 5 feet by 4 feet.

File:Thomas J. Farnham's 1839 expedition flag.png|Oregon Dragoons flag, 1839