Indiana's state flag is a deep blue field with a golden torch in the center, surrounded by 19 stars and rays extending outward. The torch symbolizes liberty and enlightenment, and the 19 stars represent the 19 states that had joined the Union by the time Indiana became a state in 1816. The flag was designed by Mooresville art instructor Paul Hadley and officially adopted in 1917.
The flag that took 100 years to fly
Flags are kind of like state selfies. They're bold, symbolic, and tell a story in one quick glance. And Indiana's state flag? It's glowing with meaning, literally. With its torch, stars, and signature blue-and-gold color scheme, Indiana's flag is more than just a piece of fabric flapping in the breeze. It's a symbol of our Hoosier identity, rich in history, hope, and a little bit of 1916 flair. So, how did this iconic design come to be? Let's take a quick stroll through a piece of Indiana history.
Indiana's flag waving in the wind (World Atlas)
What makes up the flag?
If you've ever seen Indiana's flag, you've probably noticed the flaming torch in the center. That torch isn't just there to look cool, although it does look pretty cool. It stands for liberty and enlightenment, two values Indiana has proudly carried since it became the 19th state in 1816.
The flag features 19 stars in total, representing the states that joined the Union before or alongside Indiana. At the center is a golden torch, symbolizing liberty and enlightenment, with rays extending outward to show the spread of freedom, knowledge, and progress. At the top of the torch, one larger star shines the brightest. That's Indiana, proudly taking its place as the 19th state.
When did Indiana get its flag?
Surprisingly, we didn't have a state flag until 100 years after joining the Union. It wasn't until 1916, during Indiana's centennial celebration, that a proper state flag was finally introduced. The Indiana Daughters of the American Revolution sponsored a design contest and invited Hoosiers across the state to submit their visions of what Indiana's flag should look like.
The prize? A whole $100, which was a decent chunk of change in 1916. That's about $2,800 today.
The winner was a man named Paul Hadley, an art instructor from Mooresville. His design was simple but powerful, and it perfectly captured the spirit of Indiana: bold, forward-thinking, and shining bright.
Fun fact: Mooresville is still proud of its hometown hero. The Paul Hadley Middle School is named in his honor, and the town has a historical marker dedicated to his contributions. If you love stories like this one, take a look at our roundup of historic Indiana towns worth visiting.
A few tweaks have been made
While Paul Hadley's design won the contest in 1916, the flag didn't officially become the state flag until 1917, when the Indiana General Assembly made it the real deal. In 1955, it got a small makeover. The word "INDIANA" was added above the largest star to make it crystal clear who the flag was reppin'.
Today, the flag flies proudly on government buildings, schools, sports arenas, and in front yards across the state. It also shows up on plenty of Indianapolis monuments and memorials, tying the design back to the same Hoosier pride that inspired it. Next time you see it waving against a blue Hoosier sky, give it a nod. After all, not every state gets to rock a torch of liberty with a literal glow-up.
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Why Indiana's Flag Stands Out
Flag designers tend to like Indiana's flag, and for good reason. Many U.S. state flags are just a state seal on a plain blue background, which is hard to tell apart from a distance. Indiana went a different way, with an original, symbolic design of a glowing torch ringed by stars that reads clearly even on a windy day. It's a small thing, but it's a big part of why the flag still holds up more than a century after Paul Hadley sketched it.
