The flag of Montana was introduced on 27th of February in 1905. It is a plain blue bunting and shows in the centre, on a disc, the most important elements of the state seal. Above this, since 1981, the name of the state. The "Helvetica Bold" font was specified for this in 1985. The flag goes back to a military flag introduced in 1898 by Colonel Harry C. Kessler for the Spanish-American War for troops from Montana. Apparently an attempt was made to create a new flag in 1943, which was obviously not finally realised. The state seal of Montana was created in 1865 and shows the green landscape of Montana with the Great Falls of Missouri and the Rocky Mountains, as well as a plough, a shovel and a hoe, references to agriculture and the extraction of natural resources. In the background, the sun rises over the mountains, forests and the Great Falls. In the foreground, a banner with the (Spanish) motto of the country: "Oro y Plata" → "Gold and Silver". Montana was a Spanish colony between 1763 and 1800.
1743 · the Frenchmen Louis-Joseph and François de la Vérendrye arrive – coming from the north – today's Montana, the area becomes only a little bit colonized by France, to French-Louisiana
1763 · Peace of Paris, France has to cede the Louisiana Colony to Spain and United Kingdom, large areas up to the Mississippi River become Spanish possession
1st of October 1800 · Treaty of San Ildefonso, Spain has to cede back the Louisiana Territory to France and has to withdraw to the borders of 1763
1803 · France sells Louisiana to the USA
1804–1806 · the US-american Lewis and Clark Expedition crosses the area
7th of December 1812 · today's Montana is part of the Missouri Territory of the United States
30th of May 1854 · today's Montana is part of the Nebraska Territory of the United States
2nd of March 1861 · today's Montana is part of the Dakota Territory of the United States
1862 · first gold discoveries
4th of March 1863 · today's Montana is part of the Idaho Territory of the United States
26th of May 1864 · founding of the Montana Territory, capital: Bannack
1864 · Virginia City is capital
1875 · Helena is capital
1876 · Battle of Little Big Horn
8th of November 1889 · Montana becomes the 41st State in the USA
