South Dakota State Flag

History of the South Dakota State Flag:  South Dakota became a state in 1889. But it wasn't until 1909 that South Dakota designed a state flag. Seth Bullock, a U.S. Marshall who played an important role in the history of South Dakota, requested that the state design a flag. The first flag was designed by Ida Anding, a stenographer in the Historical offices. The original flag design did not have the state seal, but a "blazing sun in gold" with the words "South Dakota The Sunshine State" encircling the sun. On the reverse side of the flag, the state seal was placed in the center, directly aligning with the sun. However, this two-sided flag was very expensive to create. In 1963, Representative William Sahr proposed creating a one-sided flag . This design was approved by placing the state seal from the reverse side atop the golden sun on the obverse side. One other change was made to the flag in 1966. Florida was becoming known as "The Sunshine State," so South Dakota voted to change their state motto to "The Mount Rushmore State." Description of the South Dakota State Flag:  The South Dakota flag is a field of azure. Centered in the flag is the state seal surrounded by the rays of a golden sun. The words "South Dakota The Mount Rushmore State" encircle the state seal and sun.