Pennsylvania State Flag Redesign
Pennsylvania has a long, proud history. Originally founded on the ideals of cooperation and brotherhood, it's unique in the fact it is considered a "Commonwealth", something that only 3 other states can say. While that has no legal meaning, it signifies that Pennsylvania was created for the good of the people and to work to improve their lives.
The state played an important role in the founding of the United States, with Philadelphia being the largest city and capitol for a period of time. Known as the Keystone State for that very reason, it continues to play an important role in modern American politics.
With Pennsylvania playing such an oversized role in America's history, why on earth does it have such a terrible flag? It's continually ranked as one of the ugliest US State Flags, and while none of these reviews are scientific in their methodology, there is something to be said about everyone coming to the same conclusion.
Pennsylvania state flag
To honor my home state, I've pulled together a few designs that better illustrate PA's rich cultural history, and it's important role in the United States.
1. The Keystone
The Keystone has been a symbol in Pennsylvania since the days of the revolution and even beyond. It's where the South met the North. Where both agriculturists and industrialists made their homes and started their businesses. And where the nation was born back in 1776.
This design uses the colors of the American Flag to tie into the larger country as a whole, but uses the famous Keystone symbol at its center to show how Pennsylvania was, and is still, key to the success of this nation.
Colors:
RED #BF0D3E
BLUE #FFFFFF
WHITE#041E42
2. Pennsylvania Dutch Hex
This design combines style and color from two different groups of European settlers.
First, the colors of Blue and Yellow were pulled from the Swedish flag. One little known fact about the lower Delaware river is that the first European settlers were Swedish in origin. Though quickly taken over by the Dutch and subsequently the English, some remnants of the Swedish settlement still remain. In fact, the current Philadelphia City Flag uses similar colors to highlight the history of the first Swedish settlers.
The overall design takes it's shape from traditional Pennsylvania Dutch Hex signs that are common throughout rural Pennsylvania. Although not Dutch at all, these European settlers were in fact German, and German-American is still the leading ethnic group in Pennsylvania. These hex signs come in many shapes, sizes, and designs.
Colors:
BLUE #004B87
YELLOW #FFCD00
WHITE #FFFFFF
3. Penn's Woods
The land that became known as Pennsylvania was granted to William Penn by the King of England (Charles II) to honor a debt he owed to Penn's late father, who was an Admiral in the Royal Navy. Originally intending to call the territory New Wales or Sylvania, Penn was dismayed (and even a bit embarrassed) when King Charles II named it Pennsylvania (Penn's Woods).
Pennsylvania is still heavily wooded (~59% forested), despite years of clearance for logging and agriculture. This design plays on that notion, by bringing those woods to a crest in the center of the flag. It lives on a field of white to symbolize the Quaker practice of pacifism, and the overall religious tolerance that Penn championed during his lifetime. A blue star is included in the corner, to signify PA's key role as America's first capitol.
Colors:
GREEN #2A5623
WHITE #FFFFFF
BLUE #041E42
4. Appalachia
While a lot of Pennsylvania's history and importance can be attributed to Philadelphia, it's largest city and the former capitol of the US, the rest of the state can't be ignored. PA stretches for more than 280 miles East to West, with it's major populations sitting on either side of the Appalachian Mountains.
The design above uses a large central triangle to accentuate that divide, with Black on the left pulled from Pittsburgh's chief colors, and Blue on the other side being pulled from Philadelphia's. The Red star in the center symbolizes the state capital, Harrisburg, and it's central location in the state.
Colors:
RED #CC3000
WHITE #FFFFFF
BLUE #2176D2
BLACK #000000
5. 76ers
There's no doubt that 1776 was a pivotal year in American history. The Revolution was in full swing, and the Continental Congress pulled together what would become one of the most influential documents in world history: the Declaration of Independence. This design pays tribute to that year with a stylized "76" in the corner. It leverages the colors of the American Flag and overall is a bit of a "ying-and-yang" design.
Colors:
RED #BF0D3E
WHITE #FFFFFF
BLUE #041E42
6. Liberty
An iconic symbol of both America and Pennsylvania as a whole is the Liberty Bell. Still housed in Philadelphia, this symbol is instantly recognizable and conveys the importance of PA in the founding of this country and its continual success. This design also uses the same Blue being used on the current flag, making it the most similar variation in this set. The words Virtue, Liberty and Independence are the current state credo, and can be found on the existing state flag.
Colors:
RED #A90000
WHITE #FFFFFF
BLUE #002A86
BRONZE #DCBC00
BROWN #2E4100
BLACK #000000
7. The Original 13
Last, but not least, a tribute to the original 13 colonies. Everyone is familiar with the Betsy Ross Flag (who was a proud Pennsylvanian), but this modern take on that shows 12 Blue stars, symbolizing the other 12 colonies, and one Red one, symbolizing Pennsylvania, surrounding the Keystone symbol. The Red star is second from the top, as Pennsylvania was the second state to ratify the Constitution after Delaware. It also was unique in that it was the only original colony not located on the ocean, though Philly was still a significant port city due to the navigability of the Delaware River.
Colors:
RED #BF0D3E
WHITE #FFFFFF
BLUE #041E42
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