What Washington's Seal — and the Face on Its Flag — Are Actually Telling You

What Washington's Seal — and the Face on Its Flag — Are Actually Telling You

You've seen it hundreds of times — flying outside schools, draped in government offices, maybe even hanging in your own garage. The flag of Washington is unmistakable: that solemn portrait of George Washington staring out from a forest-green field. But if you're like most Washingtonians, you've never actually looked at what's in that seal. Not really.

Most state flags blur together in memory — a jumble of blue backgrounds and generic crests. The flag of Washington stands apart, and not just because of the green. The symbolism packed into this design is quietly radical, historically specific, and more intentional than you'd guess. Let's pull back the curtain on what the state seal — and the face on the flag — are actually telling you.

The Only President Staring Back at You

Washington is the only U.S. state to feature a presidential portrait on its flag. Not a bald eagle. Not a constellation. Not crossed rifles or sheaves of wheat. A face.

That choice matters. When the Daughters of the American Revolution designed this flag in 1915, they could have selected any number of symbols to represent the Evergreen State. They chose the man himself: George Washington, rendered in careful detail from Gilbert Stuart's famous 1796 portrait known as the "Athenaeum" version.

This is the same likeness that appears on the dollar bill — calm, dignified, slightly remote. But on Washington's flag, he's set within a circular seal bordered by the words "THE SEAL OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON" and the year "1889," marking statehood.

The message is unmistakable: this state doesn't just share a name with the first president. It claims a direct lineage to his character, his leadership, his legacy. It's a bold assertion of identity — less about forests or salmon or frontier spirit, and more about embodying the virtues of the man himself.

The Greenest Flag in America

Every other state flag features red, white, blue, or some combination thereof. Except Washington's.

The flag of Washington is the only state flag in the entire Union to feature a green field. Not teal. Not olive drab. A deep, rich, evergreen that represents the vast coniferous forests blanketing the Cascades, the Olympics, and the coastal ranges.

When the Washington chapter of the DAR proposed this design, that green was a deliberate rejection of conformity. They knew what other states had done. They wanted Washington to be recognizable. And it worked. You can spot this flag from across a parking lot, across a parade route, across a government plaza. It doesn't blend in.

That green also carries symbolic weight. Washington's identity is inseparable from its forests — not just economically (timber built the state) but culturally. The green field is an assertion: we are not like the prairie states, the desert states, the industrial states. We are the Evergreen State, and our flag declares it.

What Most People Miss: The Ring of Words

Look closely at the seal the next time you see the flag. That circular border isn't decorative. It's informational.

The words "THE SEAL OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON" wrap around the top. The year "1889" sits at the bottom. Together, they form a complete sentence of identity: This is the official mark of Washington, a state born in 1889.

But here's what most people overlook: the typeface and layout underwent modernization in 1967. The original 1923 flag featured a slightly different rendering of the seal with older lettering styles. The 1967 update standardized the design, ensuring that every official reproduction — and every commercial flag — matched a precise template held by the Secretary of State's office.

This means that if you're flying a flag of Washington purchased before 1967, you're technically flying a historical variant. The differences are subtle, but they exist. For collectors and history enthusiasts, that distinction matters.

The Fringe Debate You've Never Noticed

Washington's state flag can be produced with or without a gold fringe along its edges. The fringe is optional, not required. Yet many people assume that the fringed version is "more official" or "more ceremonial." 

Not true. Both versions are equally legitimate. The fringe is purely decorative, often added for indoor displays or formal presentations. Outdoor flags typically omit it — the fringe wears poorly in wind and weather.

But the fringe does change the flag's visual impact. It adds formality, a sense of occasion. If you're displaying the flag of Washington indoors — in an office, a community center, a memorial hall — the fringed version signals respect and reverence. Outdoors, the clean-edged version feels more rugged, more connected to the land.

Why 1889 Matters More Than You Think

That year on the seal — 1889 — isn't just a date. It's a declaration of arrival.

Washington achieved statehood on November 11, 1889, joining the Union as the 42nd state. But it didn't adopt an official flag until 1923, a full 34 years later. For more than three decades, Washington flew as a state without a standardized flag. Local militia units, government offices, and civic groups used whatever banners they had on hand.

The DAR's 1915 design finally gave the state a unified symbol. But the 34-year gap tells a story about priorities. In the early years of statehood, Washington was busy building railroads, logging forests, founding cities. Symbolic identity came later, once the infrastructure was in place.

That year — 1889 — is a reminder that statehood was earned, not given. It represents the hard-won transition from territory to state, from frontier to political entity. Every time you see it on the seal, you're seeing the moment Washington became Washington.

The Portrait That Almost Wasn't

Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington is one of the most reproduced images in American history. But it was never finished.

Stuart began the painting in 1796, intending it as a study for future works. He never completed the background. Washington's body fades into blank canvas. Yet this unfinished quality — the soft edges, the ethereal background — became iconic. It's the version that appears on currency, stamps, and yes, Washington's state flag.

The choice to use this specific portrait was intentional. Other images of Washington exist — on horseback, in military dress, standing beside a desk. But the Athenaeum portrait captures something quieter: Washington as elder statesman, as moral authority, as the dignified architect of a republic.

When you fly the flag of Washington, you're not flying a generic presidential image. You're flying the most carefully chosen, most symbolically loaded portrait of the man who gave the state its name.

What It Means to Fly This Flag Today

Every state flag carries meaning, but the flag of Washington speaks with unusual clarity. It doesn't hide its message behind abstractions. It puts a face on its values.

When you fly this flag, you're making a statement about what matters: leadership, integrity, the natural world, and the Pacific Northwest's distinct identity. You're aligning yourself with a region that prizes both wilderness and civic virtue, rugged individualism and collective responsibility.

For Washingtonians living out of state, the flag of Washington is a beacon of home. That green field, that familiar face — they signal something specific and irreplaceable. For newcomers to the state, the flag is an invitation to understand what makes this place different.

And for anyone who's ever stood in a Douglas fir forest, watched fog roll over the San Juans, or felt the weight of the Cascades at their back — this flag  is a reminder that place shapes identity, and symbols carry that identity forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is the flag of Washington the only state flag with a green background?

A: The green field was chosen by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1915 to represent Washington's nickname as the "Evergreen State." The designers deliberately selected green to make the flag distinct from the predominant blue backgrounds used by most other states. It's a unique choice that makes Washington's flag instantly recognizable.

Q: Whose portrait appears on the Washington state flag?

A: The flag features George Washington's portrait based on Gilbert Stuart's famous 1796 "Athenaeum" painting — the same image that appears on the one-dollar bill. Washington is the only U.S. state to feature a presidential portrait on its flag, creating a direct visual link between the state and its namesake.

Q: What does the year 1889 on the Washington state seal represent?

A: The year 1889 marks when Washington achieved statehood and joined the Union as the 42nd state on November 11. Interestingly, the state didn't adopt an official flag design until 1923, more than three decades after statehood. The year on the seal commemorates that founding moment.

Q: Is the gold fringe on some Washington flags required?

A: No, the gold fringe is optional. Both fringed and non-fringed versions are equally official. The fringe is typically added for indoor displays and ceremonial purposes, while outdoor flags usually omit it since fringe doesn't weather well in wind and rain.

If you're ready to fly the flag that tells the story of the Evergreen State — with all its symbolic depth and Pacific Northwest pride — explore our Washington state flag collection in multiple sizes and formats for indoor and outdoor display.