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Mississippi’s state emblems span from the territorial era to one of the most significant flag changes in modern American history. The Great Seal, originally adopted in 1798 when Mississippi was still a US territory, features an eagle with an olive branch and arrows — a classic American emblem of peace and strength. The flag tells a more dramatic story: in June 2020, Mississippi became the last US state to remove the Confederate battle flag from its banner. The new “In God We Trust” flag, designed by Rocky Vaughan and colleagues, features a white magnolia blossom surrounded by 21 stars on a field of red, gold, and blue. It was approved by 73% of voters in a November 2020 referendum and officially adopted on 11 January 2021.
| State | Mississippi (20th state, admitted 10 December 1817) |
|---|---|
| State seal | Eagle with olive branch and arrows, shield with stars and stripes |
| Seal adopted | 1798 (territorial); 1818 (state); In God We Trust added 2014 |
| State flag | Magnolia blossom, 21 stars, In God We Trust, red-gold-blue stripes |
| Flag designers | Rocky Vaughan (layout), Dominique Pugh (magnolia), Sue Anna Joe, Kara Giles |
| Flag adopted | 11 January 2021 (referendum 3 November 2020, 73% approval) |
| Previous flag | 1894 flag with Confederate battle flag canton (retired June 2020) |
| Capital | Jackson |
| Nickname | The Magnolia State |
| State flower | Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) |
Great Seal of Mississippi — Eagle, olive branch and arrows — since 1798
The Mississippi seal is one of the oldest in the nation, predating statehood by nearly two decades.
An eagle with spread wings occupies the center. In its right talon, it holds an olive branch (peace); in its left, a quiver of three arrows (power to wage war). A shield on the eagle’s breast displays eleven alternating white and red stripes with a blue chief bearing eleven stars. The words “The Great Seal of the State of Mississippi” encircle the design.
The seal was first adopted in 1798 when Mississippi was organized as a US territory. When Mississippi became the 20th state on 10 December 1817, the territorial seal was designated as the state seal in 1818.
In 2014, the state legislature added the words “In God We Trust” to the bottom of the seal.
Flag of Mississippi — Magnolia and In God We Trust, adopted 2021
Mississippi’s current flag is one of the newest in the nation, the product of a historic decision to remove Confederate imagery from the state’s banner.
Mississippi’s previous flag, adopted in 1894, featured the Confederate battle flag in its canton — the only US state flag still bearing that emblem. After decades of debate, intensified by the George Floyd protests of 2020 and pressure from the NCAA and SEC, the Mississippi Legislature voted on 28 June 2020 to retire the old flag. The bill required that any new design exclude Confederate symbols and include “In God We Trust.”
A flag commission reviewed thousands of submissions and selected a design centered on a white magnolia blossom — the state flower and source of Mississippi’s nickname. The overall layout was created by Rocky Vaughan, with design support from Sue Anna Joe and Kara Giles. The magnolia illustration was crafted by Dominique Pugh.
The flag features a blue vertical band (Canadian pale) at center, flanked by two gold borders on a red field. On the blue band: a white magnolia blossom surrounded by 21 stars and the words “In God We Trust” below.
Voters approved the magnolia design in a statewide referendum on 3 November 2020 with 73% support. The flag was passed by the House on 5 January 2021, the Senate on 6 January 2021, and signed into law on 11 January 2021.
The seal features an eagle with an olive branch (peace) and arrows (strength), a shield with stars and stripes, and the words “In God We Trust” (added 2014). Originally a territorial seal from 1798, it became the state seal in 1818.
The 1894 flag featured the Confederate battle flag in its canton. After decades of debate, the Legislature voted in June 2020 to retire it. The new magnolia flag was approved by 73% of voters in November 2020 and adopted on 11 January 2021.
Rocky Vaughan (layout), Dominique Pugh (magnolia illustration), Sue Anna Joe, and Kara Giles.
20 white stars represent Mississippi as the 20th state. The gold star at the top, made of five diamonds, represents the Native American tribes of Mississippi.
The magnolia is the state flower and the source of the nickname “The Magnolia State.” It was chosen as the centerpiece to represent a fresh start for Mississippi.
Last reviewed by the Emblema Mundi editorial team on 2026-06-27.