The State Flag; Coat of Arms on a blue field. Year Adopted: 1865, revised 1911.

Michigan's state flag is the third since becoming a state in 1837 and features the coat of arms showing an eagle holding an olive branch and arrows. An elk and a moose support a shield displaying a man standing on a grassy peninsula. The following mottos appear on the coat of arms: E Pluribus Unum (From Many, One), Tuebor (I Will Defend) and Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice (If you Seek a Pleasant Peninsula, Look About You). (ref: michigan.gov, Michigan State flag)

The first state flag depicted an image of the state's first governor on one side with the state seal on the other side. In 1865, the second state flag replaced the image of the governor with the US Coat of Arms. With State Act 209 of 1911, the flag was revised for a third time to carry the coat of arms only. (ref; michigan.gov/sos, Coat of Arms)

The Great Lakes region was part of the Northwest Territory annexed to the United States with the Ordinance of 1787. Michigan became a separately organized territory in 1805. Between 1818 and 1836 the Michigan territory was extended westward to include parts of current day Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and parts of the Dakotas. The Wisconsin Territory was split off in 1836 and in 1837 Michigan was admitted to the Union as the 26th state.