A busy emblem on blue: state seal with pioneer, fields, river, Native rider, and stars circling. Around it runs the name and dates of statehood. It strives to capture everything at once, a crowded but earnest attempt at identity.
Blue field with white star and golden northward point.
Ratio: 2:3
Flag at a Glance
- Designer
- State Emblem Redesign Commission
- Ratio
- 2:3
- Text on flag
- No
- Animals
- None listed
- Design type
- Modern geometric symbolic flag
- Complexity
- 2/10
- Readability
- 9/10
- Seal-based design
- No
Colors used
Flag Symbolism
North Star
Represents Minnesota’s motto ‘L’Étoile du Nord’ (Star of the North).
Blue Field
Symbolizes lakes and sky.
White And Gold
Represent purity and prosperity.
Design Breakdown
The Minnesota flag can be described in a simple build order. This is useful for students learning how flags are constructed.
- Start with the base field described in the construction.
- Add the main shapes first (large stripe, field divisions, or background forms).
- Place the primary symbol(s) in their main position(s) (centre, canton, etc.).
- Finish with details like text, small emblems, and final color fills.
Construction note: Blue field with white star and golden northward point.
What Makes This Flag Unique
A lot of state flags share common themes. This one stands out for a few reasons:
- One of the newest U.S. state flags
- One of few state flags adopted through a formal redesign commission
- Deliberately avoids seal imagery and text
Praised and Criticised
Common praise
- Clean and modern design
- Strong symbolism without text
- High visibility and scalability
- Clear break from seal-based tradition
Common criticism
- Too abstract for some viewers
- Lacks traditional imagery
- Design feels corporate to critics
Modern Discussion
Redesign debate: No
Notable proposals
- Final design selected by the Minnesota State Emblems Redesign Commission
For Teachers & Students
Classroom-ready prompts, printables, and citation info for studying the Minnesota state flag.
Subjects
Learning objectives
- Explain significance of Minnesota’s motto ‘Star of the North.’
- Compare old cluttered design with 2024 simplified version.
Print this
Printable classroom handouts for this flag page.
Cite this page
Copy and paste a ready-made citation.
MLA
APA
Note: Citation formats can vary by school. These are common classroom defaults.
Seal Deep Dive
North Star
An eight-pointed star formed by negative space near the hoist.
Attributes: Eight-pointed star, White negative space
Meaning: Minnesota as the North Star State, representing guidance, hope, and direction
Color Fields
Two fields of blue forming a modern geometric layout.
Attributes: Light blue main field, Dark blue hoist triangle
Meaning: Sky and water (light blue) contrasted with stability and depth (dark blue)
Historical Timeline
Minnesota admitted as 32nd state.
Simplified redesign officially adopted.
Vexillology Notes
Design type: Modern geometric symbolic flag
Complexity: 2/10
Readability: 9/10
Fascinating Facts
Minnesota is nicknamed the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
The 2024 redesign simplified the flag for easier recognition.
The design features a bold, abstract star shape.
Blue tones represent Minnesota’s lakes, rivers, and sky.
The star symbolizes unity and guidance.
The asymmetrical shape creates a distinct silhouette.
The redesign moved away from a seal-on-blue format.
The new flag was selected through a public redesign process.
State Information
- Population
- 5,706,494
- Area
- 86,936
- Founded
- 11 May 1858
- Region
- Midwest
