Official Flag Adoption Date:  March 29, 1921

The state flag of Iowa was adopted in 1921 but was originally designed in 1917 by Mrs. Dixie Cornell Gebhardt of Knoxville and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Gebhardt explained that the blue stands for loyalty, justice and truth; the white for purity; and the red for courage. 

Iowa went without an official state flag for 75 years until Iowa National Guardsmen stationed along the Mexican border suggested a state banner was needed. The guardsmen said regiments from other states had banners and they felt one was needed to designate their unit. 

The Flag’s Design

On the white center stripe is an eagle carrying in its beak blue streamers inscribed with the Iowa state motto: “Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.” The word IOWA is in red below the streamers. 

All schools must fly the state banner on school days. The banner may be flown on the sites of public buildings. “When displayed with the United States flag, the Iowa state banner must be flown below the national emblem.”

Symbols on the Iowa Flag

Iowa state flag flying

• Blue Stripe –  Loyalty
• White Stripe – Purity
• Red Stripe – Courage
• State Motto – Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain