The New Hampshire State Flag is a recognizable symbol here in the Granite State. I have lived in Concord NH since 2000 and been a lifelong resident of New Hampshire and I recently wondered what the origin of the NH State Flag was so I did some research. From my downtown Concord NH office I see the New Hampshire State Flag flying every day.
What Is The New Hampshire State Flag?
The New Hampshire State Flag is usually seen with a blue background that has the NH state seal in the center of the flag. The state seal at the center of the flag is the USS frigate Raleigh surrounded by laurel leaves with nine stars against a field of blue.
The New Hampshire State flag has only been changed one time since it was adopted in the year 1909. The flag remain unchanged except for an adjustment to the State Seal at the center on the flag. In the year 1931 the New Hampshire Legislature passed recommendations to more precisely describe the State Seal. This was promoted by the New Hampshire Historical Society.
What Is The History of The New Hampshire State Flag?
Even though New Hampshire was officially founded in 1776, our state didn’t officially adopt this flag as our state’s flag until the year 1909.
The New Hampshire State flag has only been changed one time since it was adopted in the year 1909. The flag remain unchanged except for an adjustment to the State Seal at the center on the flag. In the year 1931 the New Hampshire Legislature passed recommendations to more precisely describe the State Seal. This was promoted by the New Hampshire Historical Society.
The New Hampshire state flag shall be of the following color and design: The body or field shall be blue and shall bear upon its center in suitable proportion and colors a representation of the state seal. The seal shall be surrounded by a wreath of laurel leaves with nine stars interspersed. When used for military purposes the flag shall conform to the regulations of the United States.
New Hampshire did not officially adopt a state flag until 1909. Prior to that official adoption, the state of New Hampshire had several regimental flags to represent the state. The flag has only been changed once, in 1931 when the state’s seal was modified.
What Does The New Hampshire State Seal Mean?
The seal was originally created in 1775 by the First Provincial Congress. At that time, the New Hampshire State Seal was made up of a pine tree and an upright fish, on each side of a bundle of five arrows. The design reflected the state’s then two major economic resources, and the arrows symbolized the strength of unity among the then five counties.
The frigate Raleigh, a historic warship, on the New Hampshire flag is tipped so it looks as though it is floating on the water. The frigate is in the NH state flag is based on the USS Raleigh. This frigate was one of thirteen ships that the Continental Congress authorized for the Continental Navy in the year 1775. Following her capture in 1778, she served in the Royal Navy as HMS Raleigh. The ship is the main feature of the flag and seal of the state of New Hampshire.
Final Thoughts on The New Hampshire State Flag
That is what I found out about the New Hampshire state flag. There are more details that can be found on the NH.gov website if you want even more details. To learn more about New Hampshire take a look here.
PS – Wondering what the New Hampshire State Flower is? That article will fill you in.
