Minnesota officially raised its new state flag, making the old flag obsolete. The old flag, adopted in 1957, will no longer fly on any official government building. The Minnesota National Guard retired the outgoing state flags before the new flag was raised at sunrise. The Minnesota Department of Administration planned for the new flags to coincide with its flag replacement schedule. The Minnesota Historical Society will preserve the old flag that flew over the Capitol and Court of Honor on the Capitol Mall.
There was discussion for years about changing the state flag due to issues with its design and imagery. The old flag featured a White settler tilling land as an Indigenous man rode horseback, which was controversial. The redesign commission considered over 2,100 submissions from the public and created a new flag with two shades of blue representing Minnesota’s waters, an eight-pointed star for the “North Star State,” and an abstract depiction of the state’s shape. Flag expert Ted Kaye gave the final design an A+ rating. Some Minnesota Republican lawmakers tried to halt the new flag’s rollout to gather more feedback on the design but were unsuccessful.
The Minnesota Historical Society does not have any plans to display the retiring flag but will retain information about the old state seal, which can still be used until the supply is exhausted or until January 2025. The old flags can be disposed of by contacting local government agencies or shipping them to the Judicial Center in St. Paul to be burned. The new flag has replaced the old flag on all official government buildings, marking a significant change for the state.
The new flag’s design reflects key elements of Minnesota’s identity, such as its abundant waters and the “North Star State” nickname. The design process involved significant public input and consideration of various submissions. The new flag’s adoption signals a fresh start for Minnesota and a departure from the controversial imagery of the old flag. The flag replacement process was carefully planned and executed to ensure a smooth transition and proper retirement of the old flags.
Overall, the adoption of the new Minnesota state flag marks a historic moment for the state, signaling a new chapter in its history. The new flag’s design reflects Minnesota’s unique identity and values, incorporating elements that resonate with its residents. The retirement of the old flag and the official adoption of the new flag represent a significant change for the state’s visual representation and symbolize a fresh start for Minnesota. The process of replacing the old flag was carefully planned and executed to ensure a seamless transition and proper retirement of the old flags, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new one for Minnesota.
