Original Flag Of Virginia
Both are significant symbols in the state.
Original flag of virginia. While the flag of the commonwealth was adopted in 1861 some minor changes were made in the first half of the 20th century. In 1776 the jurist george wythe probably drew upon a book on roman antiquities by joseph spence when he created the first virginia state seal. State flag consisting of a dark blue field background with the state seal in the centre. The flag which reproduces the seal on a blue field was adopted by virginia on 30 april 1861 after the virginia convention adopted the ordinance of secession 17 april 1861.
The state s first official flag was authorized by the legislature in 1799. Devereaux cannon 10 march 1998 the virginia state flag adopted in 1861 is a bit different than the flag adopted afterwards that flies today. It was made in two sizes and had distinctive designs on the obverse and reverse sides. The flag s first official use was at the inauguration of jefferson davis on march 4 1861.
It was sometimes called beauregard s flag or the virginia battle flag. It did not adopt an official state flag until 1896 109 years after it became a state. In its final form the flag contained thirteen stars adding the seceding states of virginia arkansas north carolina and tennessee as well as two states that attempted but failed to secede. A short history of the virginia state flag in honor of queen elizabeth i of england virginia was named and in 1607 became the first permanent english settlement in north america at jamestown virginia virginia was also one of the original states in the union and was a leading part in the revolutionary struggle.
The virginia coat of arms and the virginia creeper plant appear on the flag. In 1930 the white fringe was added and in 1931 the ornamental border of the seal was more precisely defined as a wreath of red and green virginia creeper. Read about pennsylvania s state flag history on our blog. A state flag was first adopted at the beginning of the american civil war in april 1861 readopted in 1912 and standardized by the general assembly in february 1950.
New jersey new jersey was the 3rd of the original american colonies to be admitted to the union on december 18 1787. State the state flag of virginia consists of the obverse of the seal against a blue background. Although variations of the battle flag pattern were numerous and widespread the most common design known as the southern cross featured a blue saltire diagonal cross trimmed with white with 13 white stars representing the 11 states of the confederacy plus missouri. The history of the state flag of virginia is not quite as old as the flag of the united states as the state did not first have an official flag until 1861.
Slight changes have been made to the flag since its inception. The seal of the commonwealth of virginia is the official seal of the commonwealth of virginia a u s.