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Montana (U.S.)

image by Mario Fabretto, 24 February 1998

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

Municipal flags:

Counties (counties with known flags shown by ):

See also:

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 http://sos.state.mt.us/About_Office/State_Flag.asp.
Valentin Poposki, 6 November 2006

Based on the web page at sos.state.mt.us/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

Pre-1981 flag

image by Valentin Poposki, 6 December 2005

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

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