Iowa Statehood: December 28, 1846, and the State Flag

Iowa became the 29th state on December 28, 1846. President James K. Polk approved its admission after a revised constitution won voter support. The blue, white and red design now associated with Iowa was adopted as a state banner in 1921, well after statehood.

Iowa state flag with blue, white and red vertical bands, an eagle and the state motto.
FORTISVEX catalog illustration of the modern Iowa state flag. The flag design is separate from the statehood date.

When is Iowa's state birthday?

Iowa's birthday is December 28, marking its 1846 admission to the Union. The Iowa Legislature's constitutional history confirms both the date and Iowa's place as the 29th state. This date is distinct from the August vote approving Iowa's state constitution.

Why did Iowa's route to statehood take more than one constitution?

Iowa's first constitutional convention met in 1844. Its proposal failed with voters, with disagreement over state boundaries playing a major role. A second convention met in Iowa City in May 1846, and voters approved the resulting constitution on August 3. Admission followed in December.

The Iowa Official Register's historical introduction explains that a replacement constitution followed in 1857 after dissatisfaction with provisions in the 1846 document. That later constitution, as amended, is the basis of Iowa's government. Statehood did not restart when the constitution changed.

When did Iowa adopt its flag?

On March 29, 1921, the legislature adopted Dixie Cornell Gebhardt's design as the state banner. The Iowa Official Register identifies Gebhardt as the Knoxville designer and the Iowa Daughters of the American Revolution as the sponsoring organization.

Older sources call it a banner for a reason. The 1995 legislative summary explains that lawmakers reenacted the earlier flag provisions because the Speaker had never signed the 1921 act. The 1995 law also changed the statutory term from banner to flag. It did not introduce a new design.

What is on the Iowa flag?

The flag has vertical blue, white and red bands, with blue nearest the pole. An eagle in the white center holds blue streamers bearing Iowa's motto: “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.” The state name appears below in red. Those details are set out in Iowa Code section 1B.1.

How should an Iowa birthday display label the flag?

Use December 28, 1846, for statehood and 1921 for the design's adoption as the state banner. A modern Iowa flag belongs in an anniversary display, but it should not be described as an original flag from 1846. Keeping those dates distinct makes a classroom timeline or community exhibit easier to understand.

Explore Iowa flags and other state birthdays

For a statehood display, compare the sizes, materials and mounting options in our Iowa state flag collection. For more anniversary dates, visit the U.S. state birthday calendar.

Sources and further reading

Oct 24th 2026 Sydney S.

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