The first designed Iowa state flag in May 1917, by the Iowa State Council for Defense, was designed that year by Knoxville, Iowa resident Mrs. Dixie Cornell Gebhardt a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Iowa. Iowa was nearly 75 years a state when the state banner was adopted by Legislature in 1921. The memory of the Civil War was still fresh in mind and Iowans had yet to adopt their own banner as they had long felt the national banner was the only one needed.
The Iowa state flag shows a field of blue (left), white (center) and red (right) vertical bands. The white band is larger than the blue and the red. In the middle of the white band a bald eagle, wings spread in flight, carries in its beak a banner of blue with white text. Iowa, the state name in red text, is below the eagle. The banner in Iowa’s state flag reads: “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.”
The red, white and blue are not only a reflection of the United States but of Iowa’s history as part of the French Louisiana Territory. The eagle and banner were derived from the original Seal of Iowa.
The state flag of Iowa represents far more than Iowa being the nation’s top corn producer. From Des Moines to Cedar Rapids, Iowa has a distinct Midwestern charm that can’t be recreated. The National Museum of the Mississippi River is here in Iowa, and Iowa’s State Capitol building in Des Moines is like stepping back into time. More than just a gold-domed building, but a symbol of the city with impressive architecture and historical artifacts.
Remember Iowa’s lush summers and man-made Grotto of Redemption anywhere you go with a beautiful Iowa state flag. Included with our Iowa flags are two shining brass grommets on the left edge to make hanging this flag a breeze. Smaller, more portable parade versions, as well as our indoor flags, come with a pole sleeve, spear topped and shimmering gold fringe. Vinyl decals of Iowa’s state flags can be taken anywhere you go, for use indoor and outdoor!
For tough weather and long-lasting outdoor use, we recommend our high-quality polyester 2 or nylon flags for the ultimate durability and gorgeous color.
NOTE: Indoor flags are made-to-order, so please allow 2-3 weeks before your order will ship.