A gold anchor on a white field surrounded by 13 gold stars, with the word HOPE on a blue ribbon below.
The design
The Flag of usa-state/rhode-island/" data-it-autolink="1">Rhode Island is a national emblem rendered in the colours and proportions defined by the country’s flag law. Its official aspect ratio is 29:33, the height-to-length ratio that fixes how the flag should be cut and flown. The colour scheme uses white, gold, blue, with each shade specified to particular Pantone or RGB values for official reproduction.
Colour palette
| Colour | Name | Common symbolism |
|---|---|---|
| White | white | Commonly represents peace, purity, honesty or snow-capped landscapes. |
| Gold | gold | Stands in for sunlight, mineral wealth or sovereign authority. |
| Blue | blue | Frequently symbolises sky, sea, freedom, vigilance or perseverance. |
| Source | Official flag law | The country’s own statute or constitutional appendix specifies exact shades and proportions. |
Symbolism & heraldry
The anchor — the central element of Rhode Island's state seal since 1647 — represents the Christian virtue of hope ("which we have as an anchor of the soul" — Hebrews 6:19). The 13 stars represent Rhode Island as one of the original 13 colonies. The state motto, simply "Hope," is one of the shortest of any US state.
Heraldic elements on the Flag of Rhode Island — 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 1897. Earlier banners flown by Flag of Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island | — |
| Continent | North America | — |
| ISO alpha-2 | 2-letter code | |
| ISO alpha-3 | 3-letter code | |
| Adopted | 1897 | year of current design |
| Proportion | 29:33 | height : length |
| Colours | white, gold, blue | — |
| Designer | — | |
| Emoji | Unicode codepoint sequence |
Did you know?
Rhode Island's state motto, "Hope," is the shortest of any US state — and has been used continuously on the colony's and state's seal since 1644.
