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history
The Montana State flag is easily identifiable by the large gold letters spelling out "Montana", top and centre. The state seal in the centre displays some of the states beautiful scenery and reflects some of our states pioneer activities including mining and farming. A brilliant sun rises over mountains, forests, and the Great Falls of the Missouri. The state motto at the bottom of the seal, in Spanish, means "Gold and Silver."
Here is a brief history of the State flag. Colonel Kessler headed the First Montana Infantry, a group of volunteers mustered in for the war against Spain. Units organized in several Montana communities converged on Fort William Henry Harrison, west of Helena, during the spring of 1898. Under Kessler's guidance, the recruits were "whipped" into fighting shape and provided, courtesy of Helena's ladies, with a fine 45-star U.S. flag to carry as their Regimental Colours.
Something special was needed, however, in Colonel Kessler's view, a flag or banner to distinguish Montana Volunteers from other units. On his own initiative, the Commander commissioned a unique Montana flag. The hand-made silk flag (60 X 44 inches) had a dark field on which was sewn an embroidered replica of the State seal. The unknown seamstress was, of course, free to use whatever colours she wanted.
"Colonel Kessler's Flag" embarked for the "Philippine Insurrection" with the First Montana Infantry in the fall of 1898, and served as the unit's chief insignia during its tour of duty.
By the time the volunteers returned to a grand State welcome in October of 1899, the Colonel's private flag had grown in acceptance and stature. Montana newspapers looked upon the blue banner as an unofficial state flag. Upon reaching Helena, Kessler turned the flag over to the Governor who, in turn, offered it for display throughout the state. Ultimately, the worn flag became part of the Montana Historical Society collection, preserved for future generations.
The idea of an official state flag appealed to many. The Ninth Legislative Assembly reflected that support in 1905 and proclaimed Colonel Kessler's flag official, deleting only the words "1st Montana Infantry, U.S.V. "which appeared above the seal. Flag makers had difficulty reproducing the handmade, weather-worn patterns and colours, but from this beginning, the state seal acquired colour and Montana obtained a flag.
Since 1905 there have been just two modifications of the State Flag.
The 1981 Legislature passed a bill requiring the state flag to bear the word "Montana" in Roman letters above the seal. Rep. Mel Williams of Laurel and his wife Eugenia presented the idea, pointing out that without the letters, the old flag looked too much like those of other states.
That same year Secretary of State Jim Waltermire laid down the first specifications for the exact colours of the state seal on the state flag. They ranged from a gold sky with white clouds and white sunrays to blue and white waterfalls.
Then in 1985, Legislators passed another bill requiring the word "Montana" above the great seal of the state on the flag to be in "Helvetica bold letter," a specific kind of Roman letters. This eliminated a variety of letter styles being used on the flag.
Here is a brief history of the State flag. Colonel Kessler headed the First Montana Infantry, a group of volunteers mustered in for the war against Spain. Units organized in several Montana communities converged on Fort William Henry Harrison, west of Helena, during the spring of 1898. Under Kessler's guidance, the recruits were "whipped" into fighting shape and provided, courtesy of Helena's ladies, with a fine 45-star U.S. flag to carry as their Regimental Colours.
Something special was needed, however, in Colonel Kessler's view, a flag or banner to distinguish Montana Volunteers from other units. On his own initiative, the Commander commissioned a unique Montana flag. The hand-made silk flag (60 X 44 inches) had a dark field on which was sewn an embroidered replica of the State seal. The unknown seamstress was, of course, free to use whatever colours she wanted.
"Colonel Kessler's Flag" embarked for the "Philippine Insurrection" with the First Montana Infantry in the fall of 1898, and served as the unit's chief insignia during its tour of duty.
By the time the volunteers returned to a grand State welcome in October of 1899, the Colonel's private flag had grown in acceptance and stature. Montana newspapers looked upon the blue banner as an unofficial state flag. Upon reaching Helena, Kessler turned the flag over to the Governor who, in turn, offered it for display throughout the state. Ultimately, the worn flag became part of the Montana Historical Society collection, preserved for future generations.
The idea of an official state flag appealed to many. The Ninth Legislative Assembly reflected that support in 1905 and proclaimed Colonel Kessler's flag official, deleting only the words "1st Montana Infantry, U.S.V. "which appeared above the seal. Flag makers had difficulty reproducing the handmade, weather-worn patterns and colours, but from this beginning, the state seal acquired colour and Montana obtained a flag.
Since 1905 there have been just two modifications of the State Flag.
The 1981 Legislature passed a bill requiring the state flag to bear the word "Montana" in Roman letters above the seal. Rep. Mel Williams of Laurel and his wife Eugenia presented the idea, pointing out that without the letters, the old flag looked too much like those of other states.
That same year Secretary of State Jim Waltermire laid down the first specifications for the exact colours of the state seal on the state flag. They ranged from a gold sky with white clouds and white sunrays to blue and white waterfalls.
Then in 1985, Legislators passed another bill requiring the word "Montana" above the great seal of the state on the flag to be in "Helvetica bold letter," a specific kind of Roman letters. This eliminated a variety of letter styles being used on the flag.
Nickname: The Treasure State.
Capital: Helena.
Constitution: The 41st State.
Statehood: November 8th 1889.
Motto: Oro y plata - Gold and Silver
History:
Early Montana was Indian country. When gold was discovered in 1862, great numbers of prospectors rushed to the area. In 1876, Sioux and Cheyenne Indians defeated Lieutenant Colonel George Custer and his troops in a famous battle known as Custer's Last Stand. The Indians' struggle to keep their land ended in 1877, when the Nez Perce Indians surrendered.
A corporation called The Anaconda Company became extremely powerful in the state. It owned mines, organized an electric power company, built a railway and dams, and controlled forests, banks, and newspapers. The state's farming, wood-processing, and mining industries experienced major difficulties during the mid-1980's.
Bird:
Western Meadowlark - This bird is known for its loud, cheerful chirps. It is about as big as a robin with a bright yellow chest and throat under a black collar. It builds its nest on the ground and lays between three and seven white eggs with purple and brown spots. The eggs only take two weeks to hatch. It can be found in spring and summer along most dirt roads, sitting on fence posts singing to other meadowlarks nearby. Lewis and Clark were the first to write about the western meadowlark in 1805 and it was chosen for state bird in 1931.
Economy:
Agriculture: Cattle, wheat, barley, sugar beets, hay, hogs.
Industry: Mining, lumber and wood products, food processing, tourism.
Flower:
Bitterroot - Long before explorers Lewis and Clark wrote about the beautiful purplish-pink flower of the bitterroot, Native Americans were using its roots for food and trade. Tribes dug up the roots and dried them so they could be kept and used for months. The root was too bitter to eat unless it was cooked, and it was usually mixed with berries or meat. An Indian story tells how the bitterroot came to be. It says the sun heard a mother crying because she couldn't find food for her family. The sun changed her tears into the bitterroot so she would always have food for her children. You can find the bitterroot growing near the mountains and boulders of western Montana in spring and summer. Mice love its leaves and seeds.
Nickname:
Treasure State Montana is also known as "Big Sky Country," "Land of Shining Mountains," "Mountain State," and "Bonanza State."
Origin of state's name:
Based on Spanish word for "mountainous".
Seal:
The Montana state seal is a round picture designed to show Montana's history and natural beauty. At the top, a sunrise shines over snowy mountains. Waterfalls, the Missouri River, mountains, hills, trees, and cliffs are shown behind three tools. A pick, a shovel, and a plow are symbols of Montana's mining and farming, past and present. The plow stands for Montana's farming history. Montana farmers grow apples, wheat, mint, sugar beets, cherries, and other crops.
When Montana changed from a territory to a state in 1889, the seal changed, too. Montana's first seal had a buffalo where the trees are now, and the falls and river were different, but it was very close to this one.
Tree:
Ponderosa pine - The ponderosa pine is the most common tree in Montana and early settlers used it to make most of their buildings. The ponderosa can grow 200 feet tall and eight feet thick. Wild turkeys eat its seeds. It can be seen almost everywhere along the roads of western Montana.
Early Montana was Indian country. When gold was discovered in 1862, great numbers of prospectors rushed to the area. In 1876, Sioux and Cheyenne Indians defeated Lieutenant Colonel George Custer and his troops in a famous battle known as Custer's Last Stand. The Indians' struggle to keep their land ended in 1877, when the Nez Perce Indians surrendered.
A corporation called The Anaconda Company became extremely powerful in the state. It owned mines, organized an electric power company, built a railway and dams, and controlled forests, banks, and newspapers. The state's farming, wood-processing, and mining industries experienced major difficulties during the mid-1980's.
Bird:
Western Meadowlark - This bird is known for its loud, cheerful chirps. It is about as big as a robin with a bright yellow chest and throat under a black collar. It builds its nest on the ground and lays between three and seven white eggs with purple and brown spots. The eggs only take two weeks to hatch. It can be found in spring and summer along most dirt roads, sitting on fence posts singing to other meadowlarks nearby. Lewis and Clark were the first to write about the western meadowlark in 1805 and it was chosen for state bird in 1931.
Economy:
Agriculture: Cattle, wheat, barley, sugar beets, hay, hogs.
Industry: Mining, lumber and wood products, food processing, tourism.
Flower:
Bitterroot - Long before explorers Lewis and Clark wrote about the beautiful purplish-pink flower of the bitterroot, Native Americans were using its roots for food and trade. Tribes dug up the roots and dried them so they could be kept and used for months. The root was too bitter to eat unless it was cooked, and it was usually mixed with berries or meat. An Indian story tells how the bitterroot came to be. It says the sun heard a mother crying because she couldn't find food for her family. The sun changed her tears into the bitterroot so she would always have food for her children. You can find the bitterroot growing near the mountains and boulders of western Montana in spring and summer. Mice love its leaves and seeds.
Nickname:
Treasure State Montana is also known as "Big Sky Country," "Land of Shining Mountains," "Mountain State," and "Bonanza State."
Origin of state's name:
Based on Spanish word for "mountainous".
Seal:
The Montana state seal is a round picture designed to show Montana's history and natural beauty. At the top, a sunrise shines over snowy mountains. Waterfalls, the Missouri River, mountains, hills, trees, and cliffs are shown behind three tools. A pick, a shovel, and a plow are symbols of Montana's mining and farming, past and present. The plow stands for Montana's farming history. Montana farmers grow apples, wheat, mint, sugar beets, cherries, and other crops.
When Montana changed from a territory to a state in 1889, the seal changed, too. Montana's first seal had a buffalo where the trees are now, and the falls and river were different, but it was very close to this one.
Tree:
Ponderosa pine - The ponderosa pine is the most common tree in Montana and early settlers used it to make most of their buildings. The ponderosa can grow 200 feet tall and eight feet thick. Wild turkeys eat its seeds. It can be seen almost everywhere along the roads of western Montana.