The current flag of Rhode Island was introduced by law on 1st of November in 1897. It is a white bunting and shows a golden anchor surrounded by thirteen golden stars in the centre. Below the anchor is a blue banner with the state's motto: "Hope". The anchor symbol and the motto are very old. Both could be seen on the seal of Rhode Island as early as the 1640s. The word "Hope" can be seen in connection with the religious beliefs of the first inhabitants, who therefore left their home in Massachusetts and settled on the island. The word and anchor probably go back to the Bible, Letter to the Hebrews, verses 6:18-19: "Hope, which we have as an anchor of the soul". During the War of Independence against United Kingdom, the word and anchor were used in 1775 on a flag, the flag of the Rhode Island Regiment, a flag that is still held in high esteem today. It is said that a white flag with a blue anchor in the centre was used in 1790, presumably as an ensign. The first state flag was introduced on 30th of March in 1877. It was a white flag with a blue anchor on a red-bordered white shield surrounded by blue stars. A new flag was then introduced on 1st of February in 1882. It was single-coloured blue and showed a golden anchor in a circle of thirteen golden stars. They stood for the thirteen founding colonies of the USA. The current flag was introduced in 1897. The aspect ratio of 29:33 is so unusual that it is rarely used in practice.
1511 · the Portuguese navigator Miguel de Cortereal discoveres the coast
1613 · the Dutch navigator Adriaen Block discoveres the today's Rhode Island
June 1636 · founding of Providence as a Baptist colony by Roger Williams
1638 · founding of the Colony of Portsmouth
1639 · founding of the Colony of Newport
1640 · Newport and Portsmouth are united
1643 · founding of the Colony of Warwick
19th of May 1647 · the four colonies are united as "Providence Plantations"
15th of July 1663 · the colony receives a new constitution from King Charles II of England, renaming to "Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations", Providence is the capital (until 1776)
4th of May 1664 · Block Island becomes annexed to the colony
1687–1689 · the country is part of the Dominion of New England
1775–1783 · War of Independence, the colonies against United Kingdom
4th of May 1776 · proclamation of the State "Rhode Island and Providence Plantations"
4th of Julyy 1776 · declaration of Independence (of the USA), "Rhode Island" is one of 13 founding colonies
1843 · new constitution
1854–1900 · Newport and Providence are alternately capitals
The name "Rhode Island" goes back to the Dutch navigator, explorer and trader Adriaen Block. He discovered the island in 1613 and named it for its red soil, "Rhode Eylandt". Under British rule it became "Rhode Iceland.
