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Kentucky is one of only four US states that officially styles itself a Commonwealth, and its emblems reflect the ideal of unity between frontier settlers and political leaders. The Great Seal, adopted in December 1792 when Kentucky became the 15th state, depicts two friends embracing — a frontiersman in buckskin and a statesman in formal dress — under the motto “United we stand, divided we fall.” Popular legend identifies them as Daniel Boone and Henry Clay, though officially they represent all Kentuckians. The flag, designed by art teacher Jesse Cox Burgess and adopted on 26 March 1918, places the seal on a navy blue field with sprigs of goldenrod, the state flower.
| State | Kentucky (15th state, admitted 1 June 1792) |
|---|---|
| Official title | Commonwealth of Kentucky |
| State seal | Frontiersman and statesman clasping hands |
| Seal adopted | December 1792; standardized 1962 |
| State flag | Navy blue field, seal, goldenrod sprigs |
| Flag designer | Jesse Cox Burgess (art teacher, Frankfort) |
| Flag adopted | 26 March 1918; final specifications 1928 |
| Motto | “United we stand, divided we fall” |
| Capital | Frankfort |
| Nickname | The Bluegrass State |
| State flower | Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) |
Seal of Kentucky — United we stand, divided we fall — since 1792
The Kentucky seal is one of the most human of all US state seals — no eagle, no shield, just two men clasping hands.
Two men face each other: a frontiersman in buckskin and a statesman in formal dress. The frontiersman clasps the statesman’s shoulder while they shake hands. The outer ring reads “Commonwealth of Kentucky” and the inner circle bears the motto “United we stand, divided we fall.”
On 20 December 1792, the Assembly passed an act requiring the Governor to provide a seal with “two friends embracing, with the name of the state over their heads” and the motto. Lexington silversmith David Humphries was charged with creating the first seal in 1793. His version depicted both men in swallowtail coats sharing a full embrace, rather than the frontier-vs-statesman pairing we know today.
Humphries’s original seal was destroyed in 1814 when fire burned down the state capitol. Because the legislative description was so general, artists and engravers produced wildly different versions across the 19th century — with the two friends variously shown in top hats, Roman togas, or buckskin, and their embrace depicted as a hug, a handshake, or both.
In 1962, the General Assembly finally standardized the seal: the frontiersman clasping the shoulder and shaking the hand of the statesman, in the form we recognize today.
Popular legend identifies the two men as Daniel Boone (the quintessential Kentucky frontiersman) and Henry Clay (the great statesman and senator). However, the official interpretation is that they represent all Kentucky frontiersmen and statesmen collectively.
Flag of Kentucky — Navy blue with seal and goldenrod, adopted 1918
The Kentucky flag places the Commonwealth seal at the center of a navy blue field, framed by the state’s name and its flower.
A navy blue field bears the Commonwealth seal at center. Above the seal, the words “Commonwealth of Kentucky” in gold. Below, sprigs of goldenrod (Solidago gigantea), the state flower.
The flag was designed by Jesse Cox Burgess, an art teacher in Frankfort. It was adopted by the Kentucky General Assembly on 26 March 1918, though flags similar to the current version had been in use since as early as 1880.
The General Assembly could not agree on final specifications for ten years after adoption. In 1928, final approval was given and a drawing of the flag was incorporated directly into the statutes.
The seal depicts a frontiersman in buckskin and a statesman in formal dress clasping hands. The outer ring reads “Commonwealth of Kentucky” and the motto is “United we stand, divided we fall.” Adopted December 1792, standardized 1962.
The motto expresses the bond between Kentucky’s frontier settlers and political leaders — the Commonwealth’s strength lies in the unity of its people. It has been the state motto since 1792.
Kentucky is one of four US states (with Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts) that use the title “Commonwealth.” The term means “common wealth” or “public good,” reflecting republican ideals of government by and for the people.
Jesse Cox Burgess, an art teacher in Frankfort, designed the flag. It was adopted on 26 March 1918 with final specifications approved in 1928.
That is popular legend, but the official interpretation is that they represent all Kentucky frontiersmen and statesmen collectively. The original 1792 act simply called for “two friends embracing.”
Last reviewed by the Emblema Mundi editorial team on 2026-06-27.