Dark blue with the words “State of Oregon” and the year of statehood above the state seal in gold. On the reverse (rare among state flags) appears a beaver. The beaver state makes its emblem plain, though the seal’s detail is intricate.
Blue field with gold state seal and words ‘State of Oregon 1859’; reverse side features a golden beaver.
Ratio: 2:3
Flag at a Glance
- Designer
- Legislative adoption
- Ratio
- 2:3
- Text on flag
- Yes
- Animals
- Beaver
- Design type
- Double-sided emblematic flag
- Complexity
- 9/10
- Readability
- 4/10
- Seal-based design
- Yes
Colors used
Flag Symbolism
State Seal
Depicts agriculture, mountains, elk, and ships representing trade.
33 Stars
Show Oregon as the 33rd state.
Beaver Reverse
Represents state nickname, the Beaver State.
Design Breakdown
The Oregon 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 gold state seal and words ‘State of Oregon 1859’; reverse side features a golden beaver.
What Makes This Flag Unique
A lot of state flags share common themes. This one stands out for a few reasons:
- Only U.S. state flag with different designs on each side
- Only state flag featuring a beaver as a primary symbol
- One of the most complex official state flags
Praised and Criticised
Common praise
- Only double-sided U.S. state flag
- Unique use of different symbols on each side
- Strong historical storytelling
Common criticism
- Highly detailed seal
- Includes text
- Expensive and complex to manufacture
- Low legibility at distance
Modern Discussion
Redesign debate: Yes
Common suggestions
- Adopt the beaver as the sole symbol
- Remove text and the state seal
- Create a single-sided simplified design
Notable proposals
- Beaver-only flag redesign concepts
For Teachers & Students
Classroom-ready prompts, printables, and citation info for studying the Oregon state flag.
Subjects
Learning objectives
- Explain uniqueness of Oregon’s two-sided flag.
- Identify beaver symbolism in state history.
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 Oregon state seal displayed on the obverse side of the flag.
Attributes: Covered wagon, Mountains, River and ocean, British ship departing, American ship arriving, Thirty-three stars, State name and year
Meaning: Westward migration, commerce, American sovereignty, and Oregon as the 33rd state
Beaver
A gold beaver centered on the reverse side of the flag.
Attributes: Gold beaver
Meaning: Oregon’s fur trade history and the beaver as the state animal
State Name And Year
The words 'STATE OF OREGON' and the year '1859' on the obverse.
Attributes: Gold capital letters, Gold numerals
Meaning: Commemoration of Oregon’s admission to the Union
Historical Timeline
Oregon admitted as 33rd state.
Flag officially adopted.
Vexillology Notes
Design type: Double-sided emblematic flag
Complexity: 9/10
Readability: 4/10
Fascinating Facts
Only U.S. state flag with a two-sided design.
Beaver is the official state animal.
The beaver appears on the reverse side of the flag.
The obverse side features the state seal.
The date 1859 marks Oregon’s admission to the Union.
The flag uses navy blue and gold as its primary colors.
The design highlights agriculture, commerce, and industry.
The current flag was officially adopted in 1925.
State Information
- Population
- 4,237,256
- Area
- 98,379
- Founded
- 14 Feb 1859
- Region
- West
