Ohio’s state flag, designed in 1901 by John Eisenmann, is unique among US flags due to its pennant shape. It features a blue triangle with 17 white stars representing the state’s geography and history. The red circle with a white border symbolizes the state’s name and its fruit, the buckeye. The flag’s design elements emphasize Ohio’s importance as a center of agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation. Chapter 5 of the Ohio Revised Code details the flag’s display, maintenance, and disposal.
Designed in 1901, the Ohio state flag was officially adopted by the state legislature on May 9, 1902. A description of the flag’s design and an explanation of its symbolism have been incorporated into Chapter 5, Section 5.01 of the Ohio Revised Code 100 years after its adoption . The state flag of Ohio is unique among all flags of the United States due to its shape. Rather than being rectangular, like the flags of all other states, Ohio’s flag is shaped like a pennant with a concave, swallow-tailed end. It is sometimes referred to as the Ohio burgee due to this distinctive shape.
The Ohio state flag was created by John Eisenmann to represent the state during the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York in 1901. It flew over the Ohio Building during the World’s Fair and symbolized the essence of the state. Eisenmann, an architect who designed the Cleveland Arcade, based the flag on the one used during the American Civil War by the Ohio cavalry. While simple and bold in appearance, each design element is filled with symbolism that represents the geography and history of the state.
The blue triangular union of the flag represents the hills and valleys of Ohio. Within this triangle are 17 five-pointed white stars. The 13 on the left surrounding the large circle represent the 13 original colonies. Those to the right of the circle symbolize the next four states to join the union. Ohio joined the United States as the 17th state in 1803.
A large red circle bordered in white is within the blue triangular union of the Ohio state flag. This circle represents the first letter of the state name. It is also thought to symbolize the fruit of the state tree, the buckeye. The three red and two white stripes symbolize land and waterways across the state. Every detail of the flag was meant to emphasize Ohio’s importance to the United States as a center of agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation.
In addition to describing the Ohio state flag, Chapter 5 of the Revised Ohio Code also contains sections detailing the display and maintenance of the flag and the proper way to fold it. The flag may be flown from all state and public buildings during daylight hours and during the night when properly lit. When flown in conjunction with the US flag, the Ohio state flag is required to be smaller in size and placed below the US flag. Old flags can be repaired. The correct methods of disposing of irreparable flags are also detailed.
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