Maine (1901–1909)

Maine adopted this flag on March 21, 1901, as its first official state flag. The design, created by Adjutant General John T. Richards, placed a pine tree on a buff field with a blue North Star in the upper hoist. The pine tree represented Maine’s official tree and a long-standing New England emblem, while the star reflected the state’s northern identity and the motto “Dirigo.” The buff field drew on Revolutionary-era symbolism. The flag remained official until it was replaced in 1909 and later became a popular historical symbol.