Catalog

Year Adopted: 1863, modified 1979 with the addition of the word "WISCONSIN" in white letters above the state coat of arms and the date that Wisconsin was admitted to the union, "1848" in white letters below the state coat of arms. The Wisconsin state flag is a blue field with the state coat of arms centered, with "1848" below the arms, and "WISCONSIN" above the arms.

State Coat of Arms: Finalized in 1881. The Coat of Arms contains symbols that represent the diversity, wealth and abundance of resources in Wisconsin. The center of the shield contains the United States shield with the motto E Pluribus Unum. Below the shield are a cornucopia (a symbol for the plenty of the state), bars of lead to represent Wisconsin's mineral wealth, and 13 stars which symbolize the thirteen original states. Above the shield is a badger, and a scroll with the word "FORWARD ".

Acquired by the United States after the American Revolution and the signing of the 1783 Treaty of Paris, Wisconsin was part of the original Northwest Territory (1788). Afterwards, it was part of the Indiana Territory (1800), Illinois Territory (1809), and Michigan Territory (1818) before being incorporated as the Wisconsin Territory in 1836. In 1848, Wisconsin was admitted to the Union as the 30th state.