The flag of Montana sets its seal on a deep blue field. At the centre, the state seal depicts snowy peaks, forests and the Missouri’s falls, all under a radiant sun. A pick, shovel and plough quietly recall the labour of mining and farming. The motto, Oro y Plata, “Gold and Silver”, speaks of mineral wealth, while “The Treasure State” and “Big Sky Country” remain Montana’s fond sobriquets.
Blue field with Montana state seal and word ‘MONTANA’ above.
Ratio: 2:3
Flag at a Glance
- Designer
- Legislative adoption
- Ratio
- 2:3
- Text on flag
- Yes
- Animals
- None listed
- Design type
- State seal on blue field
- Complexity
- 9/10
- Readability
- 3/10
- Seal-based design
- Yes
Colors used
Flag Symbolism
State Seal
Depicts mountains, forests, and rivers.
Plow And Shovel
Symbolize agriculture and mining.
Motto
‘Oro y Plata’ means ‘Gold and Silver.’
Design Breakdown
The Montana 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 Montana state seal and word ‘MONTANA’ above.
What Makes This Flag Unique
A lot of state flags share common themes. This one stands out for a few reasons:
- Explicitly depicts both agriculture and mining tools
- Strong emphasis on landscape over heraldry
- One of the classic Western seal-based state flags
Praised and Criticised
Common praise
- Clear representation of state industries
- Strong frontier imagery
- Authentic territorial-era symbolism
Common criticism
- Highly detailed seal
- Includes text
- Low visibility at distance
- Very similar to other seal-on-blue state flags
Modern Discussion
Redesign debate: Yes
Common suggestions
- Remove the state seal
- Eliminate text
- Adopt a mountain or bison-based symbol
- Create a distinctive non-blue-field design
For Teachers & Students
Classroom-ready prompts, printables, and citation info for studying the Montana state flag.
Subjects
Learning objectives
- Interpret Montana’s motto.
- Identify natural resource symbols on the seal.
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
State Seal
The Montana state seal centered on a dark blue field.
Attributes: Plow, Pickaxe and shovel, Mountains, River, Grassland, State name
Meaning: Agriculture, mining, natural landscapes, and frontier industry
Tools
A plow crossed with a pickaxe and shovel in the foreground.
Attributes: Plow, Pickaxe, Shovel
Meaning: Montana’s farming and mining foundations
Landscape
Mountains, river, and open plains forming the background scene.
Attributes: Mountains, River, Plains
Meaning: The vast and rugged natural environment of Montana
State Name
The word 'MONTANA' displayed above the seal.
Attributes: Gold capital letters
Meaning: Clear labeling of the state
Historical Timeline
Montana admitted as 41st state.
Official flag adopted.
Vexillology Notes
Design type: State seal on blue field
Complexity: 9/10
Readability: 3/10
Fascinating Facts
Montana’s motto emphasizes mining heritage.
The word ‘MONTANA’ was added in 1981 for identification.
The state seal is the central feature of the flag.
The motto 'Oro y Plata' means 'Gold and Silver.'
The seal depicts mountains, plains, and the Great Falls of the Missouri River.
A plow and pick symbolize agriculture and mining.
The flag uses a blue field similar to many western states.
The original flag design dates back to 1905.
State Information
- Population
- 1,084,225
- Area
- 147,040
- Founded
- 08 Nov 1889
- Region
- West
