History of North America

How did Oklahoma get its flag?

Oklahoma did not adopt an official state flag until 1925, 16 years after becoming a state. The flag was designed by Lulu Belle Smith, a teacher from Poteau, Oklahoma. She said she was inspired to design the flag after watching a sunset. The Oklahoma state flag is unique because the shape is similar to a Native American shield, and also that it has two different emblems, rather than one.

The red shield symbol is a reference to the Native Americans who once lived in the region and to the red soil of Oklahoma, while the sky-blue field represents peace. The white, cross-like symbol, placed over both the shield and the field, is the Cross of Lorraine. This cross was said to have mystical and divine powers, and it was first used by the French in the 15th Century. The five-pointed star inside the cross represents the five great Indian tribes of Oklahoma – Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole. The Native American symbolism on the flag is a nod to the state's rich Native American history and heritage.