The flag of Idaho was officially adopted in 1907, reaffirmed in 1927 and last changed in its dimensions in 1957. It goes back to a military flag used in the Philippines in 1899 during the Spanish-American War. It shows a single-coloured blue bunting and in the centre the seal of the state and below it a gold-bordered, red lettering band with the name of the state. The seal was created in 1891 by Emma Edwards Green as a territorial seal (changed in 1957) and shows an allegorical scene. In the centre appears an escutcheon with a landscape, on the sides of the shield stand a woman and a man, above the shield a is moose's head and above a ribbon with the state motto: "Esto Perpetua" (Let it be perpetual, Let it be eternal). Below the shield are ears of grain and cornucopias. The woman stands for freedom and justice, but also for women's suffrage (equality). The man is a miner who stands for the coal and steel industry. The illustrations on the shield represent the most important economic sectors: Forestry, agriculture and mining. They emphasise the natural beauty of the state. The cornucopias are symbols of abundance. The head of the moose symbolises wild animals.
About the origin of the name "Idaho" are known two theories:
1st) The name "Idaho" is derived from the native indian therm "E Dah Ho", which shall mean "the light on the mountains", "Pearl of the Mountains" or "Gem of the Mountains". From there should Idaho have its nickname "Gem State". This derivation is assumed to be false, it is considered as the creation and marketing gimmick of the mine owner George M. Willing.
2nd) The name "Idaho" was originally the name of a steamboat on the Columbia River (now Washington State). About 1860, there was discovery of gold at the Clearwater River (Douglas County, Oregon today), and one of the mines has taken the name of the ship. A short time later he was transferred to the entire land of gold. "Idaho" was even suggested as the name for the State of Colorado.
