History of the South Dakota State Flag: From “Sunshine State” to the Mount Rushmore Era

A Flag You Can Read Like a Map

Imagine standing on a windswept ridge, the Missouri River glinting in the distance. On the flag before you, a steamboat pushes through moving water. A farmer and cattle anchor the land. Timber rises at the horizon. Ringing it all is bright sun and a plainspoken credo: “Under God the People Rule.” This isn’t abstract art; it’s a map of South Dakota’s history, stitched into fabric. The South Dakota state flag is one of the few in America that tells you exactly what shaped the state—and what still does.

What the Flag of South Dakota Shows—And Why It Matters

The modern flag of South Dakota features a sky-blue field with a golden sunburst encircling the official state seal. Within the seal, you’ll spot a living snapshot of the Dakota story: a river steamboat marking trade and connection, farmland and livestock for agriculture, a nod to mining and timber for industry, rolling hills and trees for landscape, and the founding date that affirms statehood. The motto—“Under God the People Rule”—isn’t mere decoration; it’s the organizing principle that runs through South Dakota’s political culture. The sunburst isn’t accidental either: before “Mount Rushmore State” became the official tagline on the flag, South Dakota was known as the “Sunshine State,” and those rays stuck around as the flag’s signature.

How the South Dakota State Flag Evolved

Early in the 20th century, South Dakota adopted a distinctive concept: a two-sided flag. One side presented a sun design with the state name; the reverse showed the full state seal on a blue field. The idea was poetic, but printing different images on each side complicated manufacturing and added cost—especially for flags meant to fly daily on the prairie wind.

By the mid-century, the state consolidated its imagery into a single-sided design: sky blue field, the state seal ringed by sun rays, and wording that identified the state. That structure—seal inside a sun—became the visual backbone of the flag we know today.

The most visible wording update came later: the banner’s outer ring was revised to read “The Mount Rushmore State” in the early 1990s, reflecting the world-famous granite monument and cementing a tourism identity recognized globally. The change kept the classic sunburst and seal, but aligned the flag’s text with how South Dakotans—and visitors—actually know the state.

Timeline at a Glance: Milestones of the Flag of South Dakota

• Early 1900s: South Dakota debuts a two-sided flag—sun on one side, state seal on the other.
• Mid-20th Century: Practicality wins; the design consolidates to one side, with the seal centered and a golden sunburst around it.
• 1990s: Wording on the flag shifts to “The Mount Rushmore State”, preserving the sunburst and seal while aligning with modern identity.
• Today: The South Dakota state flag remains sky blue with a radiant sun and the state seal—heritage and economy in one silhouette.

The Sunshine Banner in a School Gym

Ask around and you’ll find South Dakotans who remember older versions of the flag hanging over school stages and county fairgrounds. One alumni group in a small plains town opened a storage closet to prep for a reunion and discovered a carefully folded gym flag—sky blue, with the sunburst still bright. They hadn’t flown it in years. When they raised it again for homecoming, grandparents told students about steamboats, wheat harvests, and the state motto. A few weeks later, the PTA replaced the worn rope on the pole. A local shop offered to mend the fly end. It wasn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake; it was the community saying, “This picture still describes us.”

Where the Flag Lives: From Courthouses to Ranch Gates

The flag of South Dakota flies from public buildings, schools, and tribal and municipal centers, but you’ll also see it on ranch gates, lake cabins, and shopfronts. Its sky-blue field blends with prairie skies, while the gold sun catches afternoon light in a way photographers love. That visibility—and the recognizability of the sunburst—help explain why residents choose state flags alongside U.S. flags and POW/MIA banners. In a state where weather can be assertive, the flag’s endurance also depends on the right material and size (more on that in our FAQ below).

Why This Design Endures: Clarity and Character

Some state flags are complex coats of arms that look best on paper. The South Dakota state flag works in real life because its shapes and symbols are readable at distance: circle, rays, seal. The elements tell a coherent story—land, work, water, date, creed—without asking viewers to guess. The sunburst gives motion; the seal gives meaning. As design, it’s both emblem and explanation.

Practical Notes for Owners & Collectors

If you’re planning to fly the South Dakota state flag at home, school, or a civic site, treat it like the working emblem it is:

1. Material matters: Nylon (200-denier) catches light breezes and dries quickly; 2-ply polyester resists fray in open, windy areas common on the plains. 
2. Choose the right size: 3×5 fits most porches and 15–20′ poles; 4×6 suits 20′ poles when you want more presence; 5×8 pairs with 25′ poles for schools and municipal sites. South Dakota Flag Size Chart
3. Construction counts: Look for a reinforced canvas header, brass grommets, lock-stitched seams, and extra fly-end stitching.
4. Rotation doubles life: Keep two flags. Fly one while the other rests and gets a quick rinse. Swap monthly in windy seasons.
5. Respect protocol: When displayed with the U.S. flag, the national flag takes the position of honor. Replace your state flag when it becomes excessively worn or faded. U.S. Flag Display Rules

Deep Read: Inside the State Seal on the Flag of South Dakota

The seal at the flag’s center is a miniature panorama: river and steamboat for commerce; agriculture and ranching for the state’s backbone; industry and timber for resource and craft; and rolling terrain for place. The motto—“Under God the People Rule”—makes the seal one of the most direct expressions of popular sovereignty among state emblems. Put together, these pieces tell you why the state exists, who it’s for, and how it earns its living.

Question for You: What Do You Want Your Flag to Say?

When you raise the South Dakota state flag, are you honoring a family ranch, a school legacy, or a community project. Do you want a daily flyer that weathers the prairie wind or a presentation set that shines indoors. Your answer points to your best material and size—and to where your flag will tell its story.

FAQ: South Dakota State Flag Basics

What does the sunburst mean on the South Dakota flag?

The sunburst is a visual echo of South Dakota’s long association with sunshine and open sky. Historically, the state used “Sunshine State” branding; the rays became the enduring motif even as wording evolved to “The Mount Rushmore State.”

What does the motto “Under God the People Rule” signify?

It foregrounds popular sovereignty—the idea that government derives its just powers from the people—while acknowledging a moral framework. It’s an unusually direct statement among state mottos.

Why did the wording change to “The Mount Rushmore State”?

To align the flag with the state’s most globally recognized landmark. The update preserved the classic sunburst and seal while modernizing the outer text for clarity and tourism identity.

Is the flag double-sided?

Early versions had different artwork on each side (sun on one, seal on the other). Today’s flag is a single design—far easier to manufacture and maintain for daily use.

What material should I choose if I live in a windy area?

For open or consistently breezy locations, 2-ply polyester usually outlasts nylon. In sheltered neighborhoods or for lighter breezes, nylon flies beautifully and dries fast.

How This History Helps You Choose the Right Flag

Understanding the flag of South Dakota—its seal, sunburst, and motto—turns you into a better steward. You’ll know why reinforced headers matter, why a smaller size can be the smarter choice in gusts, and why rotating a spare preserves both fabric and colors. When you raise a flag you understand, you don’t just decorate a pole—you declare a story.