Can You Identify These US State Flags?

The colors on the flag of Colorado are meant to represent colors important to the state. The blue hints at the blue skies found in Colorado, the white signifies the snowy mountains, the red is for the dirt found in the state and the yellow represents the sunshine.

The flag of Montana dates back to the Spanish-American War at the tail end of the 19th century, where it was used by troops from the state. The original flag was adopted in 1905, a few years after the war ended.

The colors used in the flag of New Mexico are derived from the flags of old Spain. These colors tie New Mexico to its Spanish past, as the state was once part of Spanish territory that included Mexico before the Mexican War of Independence.

George Washington, featured on the flag of Washington, is the only U.S. president to have a state named after him. The state was carved out of the Washington Territory, ceded by the British in 1846 and admitted to the Union in 1889.

Vermont is a state with a historically low population, and dairy and agriculture are two important industries. To honor these industries, a cow and bundles of wheat are displayed in the coat of arms located on the state flag.

The shield on the flag of Oklahoma is modeled after a traditional Osage Nation shield. Atop the shield are two signs of peace: the ceremonial pipe used by Native Americans to build community and the olive branch that signifies an extension of help in European society.

Nicknamed the "Lone Star State," the flag of Texas includes a single star in its design. The state received this nickname because it was once an independent republic fighting for its independence from Mexico.

Silver is important to the history of Nevada because it's a major reason settlers flocked to the state in the 19th century, even earning Nevada the nickname "The Silver State." To honor this history, the state included a silver star in the flag design.

During the 18th century, Kansas was a popular pioneer state as people flocked to towns like Dodge City and Abilene. The seal on the flag honors the state's pioneer life in a multitude of ways, including a series of carriages and horses that show how settlers traveled such great distances.

The flag of Arizona was adopted by the state even though it didn't receive the governor's approval. Instead, the bill was passed by the 3rd legislature of Arizona in 1917 to make the flag official.

Liberty and Justice are both prominent figures on New York's coat of arms, shown on the flag of New York. Liberty stands atop a British crown to signify the colonies overcoming British control, while Justice holds a balanced scale to represent fairness.

The Big Dipper and the North Star are prominent features on the flag of Alaska. The Big Dipper, a symbol for a bear, signifies the strength of the state, while the North Star represented that Alaska would eventually become a state even before it was admitted to the Union.

"The Mount Rushmore State" is written across the flag of South Dakota because the state is home to the famed mountain. Located in the Black Hills region of South Dakota (on sacred Lakota land), Mount Rushmore is sculpted with the faces of four presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

The pelican is an important symbol for the people of Louisiana, which is why the bird's included on the state flag. In the flag design, the pelican feeds her young drops of blood, representing how the state's willing to make sacrifices for residents.

One of the most important pioneers in the history of Kentucky was Daniel Boone, who is often believed to be the pioneer featured on the state flag. After the American Revolution, Boone was credited with encouraging the settlement of Kentucky, resulting in it becoming a state in 1792.

Florida has an interesting history because the state was controlled by Spain, France and Great Britain at different times during the colonial period. It didn't become a U.S. territory until 1821, and the current state flag wasn't adopted until 1900.

The flag of North Dakota has received several changes since it was originally adopted in 1861. The first change came in 1885, when a new flag was adopted to represent the state, and slight modifications were made again in 1991. The flag hasn't changed since then, however.

A grizzly bear (once an important part of the ecosystem in the state) is featured on the flag of California. However, these bears were killed off at the beginning of the 20th century because they threatened the state's growing population.

Michigan has gone through several state flags before settling on the current one in 1911. The original flag of Michigan included a picture of the first governor of Michigan, Stevens T. Mason, though the flag has been lost to time.

Adopted in 1905, the flag of Tennessee was designed by LeRoy Reeves, who was a member of the Tennessee National Guard. The three stars he included on the flag signify how the state's divided into the middle, east and west.

On February 14, 1859, Oregon became the 33rd state to be admitted into the Union. The flag of Oregon honors the state's history by including 33 stars around the shield located on the front of the flag.

Moose and elk are some of the most celebrated animals in Idaho, which is why an elk's head is included on the flag of Idaho. These animals can be hunted across the state, but hunters must acquire tags because of their protected status.

An artist named Verna Keys created the design for the flag of Wyoming after she entered a contest hosted by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her design, adopted in 1917, was awarded a $20 cash prize.

The flag of Connecticut contains three purple and green grapevines, which reference a seal used by the Saybrook Colony in the 1600s. The three vines symbolize Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield, the oldest settlements in Connecticut.

Mississippi has its own state pledge, delivered to the flag of Mississippi. The pledge goes, "I salute the flag of Mississippi and the sovereign state for which it stands with pride in her history and achievements and with confidence in her future under the guidance of Almighty God."

Delaware is known for its shipbuilding industry, which is why a ship is featured at the top of the state flag. One of the most important shipyards was the Vinyard Shipyard, located in Milford, though it's a museum today.

One of the first warships authorized by the Continental Congress, the USS Raleigh can be seen on the flag of New Hampshire. The ship was launched in 1776 and was later captured by the British, who used it in the war until it was decommissioned in 1781.

Adopted in 1863, the flag of Wisconsin was created because regiments from the state who fought in the Civil War wanted a banner to carry into the field. Since its original adoption, the flag has received several changes, with the most current look coming about in 1979.

Two important dates in Illinois history are shown on the state flag. The earliest date, 1818, is when Illinois became a state, and the later date, 1868, is when the Great Seal of Illinois was designed with its current look.

The flag of West Virginia includes the year, 1863, that West Virginia was admitted into the Union. Part of Virginia prior to becoming a state, West Virginia split off from its parent state during the Civil War because residents in the western half of the state still supported the Union.

The anchor, a symbol for hope, has been an important symbol in the history of Rhode Island, dating back to the 17th century. The symbol is included on the flag along with the word "hope" to honor the state's past as a place of religious freedom.

The state tree of South Carolina is the palmetto tree, which can be seen on the flag of South Carolina. This tree is important in the state's history because it was used at Fort Sullivan during the American Revolution to defend the fort against cannon fire from the British.

The red, white and blue across the flag of Missouri provides important symbolism for the state. The red represents valor, the white means purity and the blue has three meanings: vigilance, justice and permanency.

Arkansas' history as a major diamond producer is honored on the state flag by the diamond in the center of the flag. Today, Arkansas has one of the only mines where the public can search for diamonds located at Crater of Diamonds State Park.

The shallowtail on the flag of Ohio is believed to be based on the flags carried by cavalry troops during the Civil War and Spanish-American War. Though Ohio had several unofficial flags, it did not officially adopt a flag until 1902.

The coat of arms included on the flag of Pennsylvania was adopted in 1778, a few years before the American Revolution even ended. After several changes, the flag design was finally completed in 1907 to include the coat of arms, an eagle and two horses.

The flag of Indiana includes a unique pattern of stars to represent its place in the Union. The first 13 states to join the Union are represented by the outer stars, the five inner stars symbolize the next five states to join and the largest star signifies Indiana's place as the 19th state in the Union.

The two different coat of arms found on the flag of Maryland honor Cecil Calvert, who founded the colony of Maryland. His family is represented by the gold and black design, and his mother's family is represented by the red and white design.

Written in Latin across the ribbon on the flag of Massachusetts are the words "Ense Petit Placidam, Sub Libertate Quietem." These words translate into English as "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty."

The flag of Minnesota includes a farmer plowing a field to hint at the state's agricultural industry. Two of Minnesota's most important crops are corn and soybeans, though it also grows hay, sugar beets, wheat and barley.

The Missouri River, which partially runs through Nebraska, is featured on the state flag. Depending on the source, the Missouri River is often credited as the longest river in North America, though the Mississippi River also lays claim to the title.

Maine does not include official colors when describing the design of its state flag other than the blue in the background, which should match the blue in the national flag. For that reason, there are multiple variations of the state flag flying in Maine.

At the onset of the Civil War, the Southern states that seceded started to push their individual identity rather than a national identity. That's one of the reasons Virginia adopted its state flag in 1861, not long after it left the Union.

Georgia was one of the original 13 colonies, which is signified by the 13 stars located on the state flag. After the American Revolution, Georgia became the fourth state admitted to the Union, joining the United States in 1788.

Two of the colors on the flag of New Jersey, buff and dark blue, date back to the American Revolution. During the war, George Washington ordered troops from New Jersey to wear coats made in these colors, which led to the creation of the first state flag in 1780.

Located in the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii is made up of eight islands: Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau and Kahoolawe. These islands are all recognized on the state flag by the eight red, white and blue stripes that run across it.

The national bird, the bald eagle, is shown atop the state seal on the flag of Utah. This design was used to show how the United States serves as a protector during times of both war and peace.

The design for the state flag of North Dakota comes from a banner carried by troops from North Dakota during the Philippine-American War between 1899 and 1902. Even though the flag was adopted in 1911, final changes were made in 1943 to give the flag the look it has today.

One of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Dixie Cornell Gebhardt, designed the flag of Iowa in 1917. However, it took four years for the state to officially adopt the flag, as officials from Iowa thought the national flag was sufficient until that point.

The cross featured on the flag of Alabama is designed to represent the St. Andrew's Cross. The name of the cross comes from the apostle Andrew, who was believed to have been crucified on an x-shaped cross.