Over 2,600 Designs Submitted For New MN State Flag, Seal

ST. PAUL, MN — More than 2,600 designs were submitted for the new Minnesota state flag and seal, the State Emblems Redesign Commission announced Friday.

About 85 percent of the submissions were designs for the state flag and 15 percent were for the state seal.

Last spring, the Democratically-controlled legislature passed a bill creating the State Emblems Redesign Commission, which is tasked with choosing a new design for the official state flag and seal.

The last day to submit a design was Monday, Oct. 30. The commission now has until Jan. 1, 2024, to choose and formally adopt a new flag and seal.

The commission will first select five finalists each for the flag and seal before choosing a final design for both. The final design will be utilized as the basis for each emblem.

Next steps

The commission meets Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The Nov. 7 meeting will be held virtually and members of the public can attend.

It's not yet clearn when submissions will be made available for public viewing and input.

Why a new flag and seal?

The current state flag dates back to 1858 and was designed by Amelia Hyde Center of Minneapolis.

The flag emblem depicts a pioneer plowing a field while a Native American man on horseback rides toward the sunset.

"Minnesotans For A Better Flag" lists 10 reasons why an update is needed, including that it's boring and its details are too small, confusing, and even controversial.

"The seal originally symbolized the white man’s takeover of the frontier from the Native Americans," the group states. "It is confused with more than twenty other state flags: all blue backgrounds with a seal."

Rep. Andy Smith said on Twitter he doesn't include the state seal on office stationary and business cards "because it is not respectful to all Minnesotans."

Minnesotans For A Better Flag has several proposed designs on its website.