On April 24, 1902, John Eisenmann - creator of Ohio's flag - transferred his patent to the state. The General Assembly made it the official state flag May 9.

Ohio had no flag until 1901, when Eisenmann, architect of the Ohio Building at the Pan-American Exposition, made the flag that flew over the building.

Ohio's flag is distinctive because of its swallow-tail design (called a burgee) and is the only pennant-shaped state flag. Eisenmann said the triangles formed by the main lines of the flag represent Ohio's hills and valleys. The stripes symbolize roads and waterways. And the stars, grouped around a circle (which represents the Northwest Territory), indicate the 13 original states. Four additional stars indicate Ohio's position as the 17th state to join the Union. The white circle with the red center also represents the initial letter of Ohio and is suggestive of it being the Buckeye State.

Rebecca Goodman

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com or call (513) 768-8361.