The usa-state/michigan/" data-it-autolink="1">Michigan state coat of arms on a navy blue field, supported by an elk and a moose under an eagle.
The design
The Flag of Michigan is a national emblem rendered in the colours and proportions defined by the country’s flag law. Its official aspect ratio is 2:3, the height-to-length ratio that fixes how the flag should be cut and flown. The colour scheme uses navy blue, white, brown, blue, with each shade specified to particular Pantone or RGB values for official reproduction.
Colour palette
| Colour | Name | Common symbolism |
|---|---|---|
| Navy blue | navy blue | A nationally significant colour for this flag — see the symbolism section below for the country-specific meaning. |
| White | white | Commonly represents peace, purity, honesty or snow-capped landscapes. |
| Brown | brown | Suggests soil, indigenous heritage or the working land. |
| Blue | blue | Frequently symbolises sky, sea, freedom, vigilance or perseverance. |
Symbolism & heraldry
The shield shows a man on the shore of a lake at sunrise, holding a long gun — representing peace and readiness. Three Latin mottos appear: E Pluribus Unum (national motto), Tuebor ("I will defend"), and Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice ("If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you").
Heraldic elements on the Flag of Michigan — bands, charges, emblems or stars — each carry meaning agreed at the moment of the flag’s adoption. Re-readings happen across generations: a colour or a symbol that began with one meaning often picks up further layers as the country’s history unfolds.
Adoption & history
The current flag was adopted in 1911. Earlier banners flown by Flag of Michigan reflected the politics of their day; each redesign typically marked a moment of independence, regime change or constitutional reform. The current flag was chosen, debated and codified through the country’s official channels and is now protected by flag law.
Etiquette & protocol
The Flag of Michigan should be flown with respect: never allowed to touch the ground, never used as drapery for ceremonies it was not made for, and lowered or removed at sundown unless illuminated. When flown alongside other national flags, it takes precedence on home soil and is hoisted first and lowered last. On days of national mourning, the flag is flown at half-mast in line with directives from the head of state. These conventions are common to most nations and are usually written into the flag’s founding statute.
Specifications
| Field | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Flag of Michigan | — |
| Continent | North America | — |
| ISO alpha-2 | 2-letter code | |
| ISO alpha-3 | 3-letter code | |
| Adopted | 1911 | year of current design |
| Proportion | 2:3 | height : length |
| Colours | navy blue, white, brown, blue | — |
| Designer | — | |
| Emoji | Unicode codepoint sequence |
Did you know?
Michigan's flag features more Latin than any other US state flag — three separate Latin mottos appear on the coat of arms.
