If you’ve ever walked through a government building in Springfield or caught a glimpse of the banner flying over the Dan Ryan, you’ve seen it. A white field, a bald eagle clutching a shield, and a giant word "ILLINOIS" plastered across the bottom. It’s the state of Illinois flag, and honestly? Most people find it a little bit boring. Or, at the very least, they find it cluttered. Compared to the bold, minimalist designs of Texas or New Mexico, Illinois’ flag looks like a corporate seal someone forgot to crop properly.
But here is the thing: the flag is actually at a massive turning point. As of 2024 and heading into 2025, the state has been moving toward a total redesign. People are tired of the "seal on a bedsheet" look. We are currently in the middle of a serious legislative push—the Illinois Flag Commission is literally sifting through thousands of public submissions right now—to find a design that actually represents the 21st-century reality of the Prairie State.
The weird, messy history of how we got here
It wasn't always this way. In fact, for the first century of its existence, Illinois didn't even have an official state flag. We just used the American flag and called it a day. It wasn't until 1915 that Ella Park Lawrence, the State Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution, decided we needed a visual identity. She put up a $25 prize—which was decent money back then, I guess—for the best design.
Lucy Derwent won. Her design was basically just the Great Seal of Illinois on a white background. It was simple, sure, but it lacked any real "punch."
Then came the Vietnam War era. An Illinois Chief Petty Officer named Bruce McDaniel noticed something frustrating while serving at an amphibious base in Vietnam. He saw the state flags of his fellow sailors, but when he looked at the Illinois flag, he realized no one knew what it was. It just looked like a white cloth with some messy shapes on it from a distance. He wrote to the state government, suggesting we at least add the name "Illinois" so people would know who we were. In 1969, Governor Richard Ogilvie signed the bill, and the big bold letters were added.
That’s the flag we have today. A fix for a visibility problem that created a design problem.
Breaking down the symbolism (and the errors)
Look closely at the eagle. It’s a bald eagle, representing the United States. In its beak, it holds a ribbon with the state motto: "State Sovereignty, National Union."
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Here is a fun bit of trivia that most people miss: The dates on the rock are 1818 and 1868. The first is the year Illinois became a state. The second is the year the Great Seal was redesigned. But there's a weird political grudge buried in that seal. After the Civil War, the Secretary of State, Tyndale, wanted to flip the motto to "National Union, State Sovereignty" to show that the federal union came first. The legislature blocked him. So, Tyndale got petty. He had the seal engraved so that "National Union" is upright and easy to read, while "State Sovereignty" is actually upside down.
If you look at the state of Illinois flag today, you are looking at a 150-year-old political "middle finger" hidden in plain sight.
Why everyone is suddenly obsessed with a redesign
Chicago has arguably the best flag in the world. The four red stars, the two blue stripes—it’s iconic. You see it on hats, tattoos, and doormats. Nobody tattoos the Illinois state flag on their arm.
That’s the core of the problem. A good flag should be so simple a child can draw it from memory. The current Illinois flag is a nightmare to draw. You’ve got an eagle, a shield, a sun rising over a prairie, a rock, a ribbon, and specific shades of brown and green that are hard to replicate.
The North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) generally rates flags on five principles:
- Keep it simple.
- Use meaningful symbolism.
- Use 2-3 basic colors.
- No lettering or seals.
- Be distinctive.
Illinois fails four out of five. We are basically the poster child for what not to do in flag design. This isn't just a "vibe" thing; it's about state pride. When a flag is too complex, it doesn't get used. It doesn't appear on local products. It doesn't unify the people from Cairo to Rockford.
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The 2024-2025 Redesign Movement
Senate Bill 1818—cleverly named after the state's birth year—created the Illinois Flag Commission. This wasn't just some backroom deal. They opened it up to the public. They received over 4,500 entries. Think about that for a second. Four thousand five hundred people sat down and tried to reimagine what this state looks like in a single graphic.
The committee narrowed those down to a handful of finalists late in 2024. Most of the new designs lean heavily into symbols like:
- The White Oak: The official state tree.
- The Violet: The state flower.
- The Blue Stripes: Representing the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan.
- The North Star: Symbolic of Illinois being the "North Star" of the Midwest and a beacon for the Underground Railroad.
It’s a massive departure from the eagle-on-a-rock imagery. Some people hate it, obviously. Change is hard. There’s a segment of the population that feels like we’re erasing history. But proponents argue that the current flag isn't even "historic"—it's a 1970s modification of a 1915 design that was already a copy-paste of a seal.
What happens next?
The commission is tasked with submitting a report to the General Assembly by the end of 2025. From there, the lawmakers have three choices:
- Keep the current flag exactly as it is.
- Adopt one of the new designs as the official state flag.
- Put the top designs on a ballot and let the people of Illinois vote on it during the next election cycle.
Most political insiders expect a public vote. It’s the safest way for politicians to avoid the "culture war" aspect of changing a symbol. If the people pick it, you can't blame the governor.
Does it actually matter?
Some might say this is a waste of time. "We have high property taxes and a pension crisis, why are we talking about a piece of fabric?"
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It's a fair point. But flags are about branding. When people think of Colorado or California, they have a clear mental image associated with that state’s brand. Illinois has a branding problem. We are often seen as "Chicago and everything else." A unified, well-designed flag is a small but real way to bridge that gap. It creates a visual shorthand for a state that is incredibly diverse, from the high-rises of the Loop to the orchards of Calhoun County.
Real-world insights for the curious
If you are following the progress of the state of Illinois flag, here is what you should actually look for in the coming months:
- Watch the "Blue and Gold" trend: Many of the leading designs use a deep blue and a golden yellow. This isn't just because it looks good; it mirrors the colors used by many state agencies and historical banners.
- The "Lettering" Debate: Almost every design expert agrees the word "ILLINOIS" has to go. If your flag needs a label, it’s not doing its job.
- The Cost: Critics point to the cost of replacing flags on state buildings. However, the legislation is usually written so that flags are replaced only as they wear out, meaning there isn't a massive "Day 1" tax bill for new fabric.
If you want to get involved, the Illinois State Library has been the hub for these historical records. You can actually look up the original Lucy Derwent sketches if you're a real history nerd.
The path forward is pretty clear. We are moving away from the complex, 19th-century "seal" style and toward something that can actually fit on a social media profile picture or a t-shirt. Whether the final choice is a star, a tree, or a river, the era of the "eagle-on-a-white-bedsheet" is likely coming to an end.
Keep an eye on the Secretary of State’s announcements through the end of 2025. That is when the final decision on the public vote will likely be cemented. For now, the old eagle still flies, but its days are numbered.
Actionable Steps for Illinois Residents
- View the Finalists: Visit the official Illinois Flag Commission website to see the top designs currently under consideration.
- Contact Your Reps: If you have a strong feeling about the "1818" vs "1868" symbolism or the removal of the eagle, let your state senator know before the 2025 legislative session ends.
- Check the Archives: If you're interested in the "petty" history of the Great Seal, the Illinois State Archives in Springfield holds the original documents regarding the Tyndale motto controversy.
- Prepare for a Vote: Ensure your voter registration is up to date, as the flag choice will likely appear as a referendum on a future statewide ballot.