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Montana (U.S.)

image by Clay Moss, 4 November 2014

History
Pre-1981 flag
Legal Description
State Seal
State Military Crest

See also:

Proposals for a new flag
Airports in Montana
United States of America
States of the United States

External sites:
Montana Symbols

In 1890, five stars were added, representing Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Washington, bringing the total number of stars on the U.S. flag to 43. There were thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies.

History

Montana State flag is based on 1898 Colonel Harry C. Kessler flag of the 1st Montana infantry. The flag was used as an unofficial state flag until its official adoption in 1905. The state name on the flag was added in 1981 in Roman lettering and was refined on 1985 to Helvetica bold lettering.
Dov Gutterman, 12 October 1998

The original "1st Montana Infantry U.S.V." flag can be seen at sos.mt.gov/About_Office/State_Flag.asp.
Valentin Poposki, 6 November 2006

Based on the web page at sos.mt.gov/About_Office/State_Flag.asp, we learn that the flag was adopted by House bill 157 passed on 7 September 1905.
Christopher Southworth, 7 November 2006

"The state flag of Montana shall be a flag having a blue field with a representation of the great seal of the state in the center and with golden fringe along the upper and lower borders of the flag; the same being the flag borne by the 1st Montana Infantry, U.S.V., in the Spanish-American War, with the exception of the device, "1st Montana Infantry, U.S.V."; and above the great seal of the state shall be the word "MONTANA" in Helvetica bold letters of gold color equal in height to one-tenth of the total vertical measurement of the blue field."

This would probably mean a blue not quite as dark as Old Glory Blue, but then it would also seem to indicate a larger seal.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 23 April 2015

The fringe is an embellishment, as in Minnesota. The sample flag the legislature looked at prior to adoption had fringe, and they adopted it verbatim, so to speak.
Lee Herold, 24 April 2014

Pre-1981 flag

image by Clay Moss, 4 November 2014

The first flag of Montana 1905-1981.
Valentin Poposki, 6 December 2005

image located by Valentin Poposki, 27 March 2012

In the December 1943 number of LIFE Magazine (searched through Google Books), I found a gallery of US States flags photos carried by soldiers. All of them are known to us, except the shown flag of Montana.
Valentin Poposki, 27 March 2012

Legal Description

Montana Code, Part 5
1-1-502. State flag. There is hereby established a state flag of Montana. The state flag of Montana shall be a flag having a blue field with a representation of the great seal of the state in the center and with golden fringe along the upper and lower borders of the flag; the same being the flag borne by the 1st Montana Infantry, U.S.V., in the Spanish-American War, with the exception of the device, "1st Montana Infantry, U.S.V."; and above the great seal of the state shall be the word "MONTANA" in Helvetica Bold letters of gold color equal in height to one-tenth of the total vertical measurement of the blue field.
Joe McMillan, 15 February 2000

State Seal

1-1-501. Great seal. The great seal of the state is as follows: a central group representing a plow and a miner's pick and shovel; upon the right, a representation of the Great Falls of the Missouri River; upon the left, mountain scenery; and underneath, the words "Oro y Plata". The seal must be 2 1/2 inches in diameter and surrounded by these words, "The Great Seal of the State of Montana".
Joe McMillan, 15 February 2000

State Military Crest

image by Joe McMillan, 21 April 2000

The state military crest, which is the crest used in the coats of arms of units of the National Guard, as granted by the precursor organizations of what is now the Army Institute of Heraldry. The official Institute of Heraldry blazon is "A fleur-de-lis the middle leaf and tie or, and outside leaves argent."
Joe McMillan, 21 April 2000