West Washington Street in Phoenix, which leads to the State Capital, is currently decorated with Arizona Flags in preparation for the centennial. At the center of the star is a two foot copper star, representing the pride that Arizona once had in being the nation’s number one copper producer. Presently, the copper stars on the flags are nicely complimented by the Arizona Mining Mineral and Museum at 1502 W. Centennial Way. The museum features copper products and copper mining, as well as the unique Arizona geology that includes extraordinarily rich copper deposits.
However, Governor Brewer and the Arizona Historical Society (as explained in prior blog posts) plan to dismantle the mineral museum and replace it with a 5C Arizona Centennial Museum featuring cotton, cattle, citrus, climate, and copper. The motivation for this change is unknown, but cannot be based on Arizona history. At the time of statehood, Arizona was proud of being the top copper producer, and the flag was designed accordingly.
The flag has no cotton balls, no cows, and no grapefruit. The Governor should look at the 2 foot tall copper star on one of those flags, and think about why it is there.
From www.azgovernor.gov (facts about Arizona)
The lower half of the flag is a blue field, the upper half divided into thirteen equal segments, six light yellow and seven red. In the center of the flag is a copper-colored five-point star. The red and the blue are the same shades as the flag of the United States of America, and it measures four feet high and six feet wide. The flag was designed by Charles W. Harris and first sewn by Nan D. Hayden. Blue and yellow are the Arizona colors, and red and yellow the colors of the Spanish Conquistadores headed by Coronado who first came to Arizona in 1540. The copper star represents Arizona as the largest producer of copper in the nation.
ARS Title 41
CHAPTER 4.1 - HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY AND STATE EMBLEMS.
Article 5 - State Emblems.
Sections 41-851 & 41-852.
41-851. State colors; state flag
A. Blue and old gold shall be the colors of the state. The blue shall be the same shade as that of the flag of the United States.
B. The flag of the state shall be of the following design:
The lower half of the flag a blue field and the upper half divided into thirteen equal segments or rays which shall start at the center on the lower line and continue to the edges of the flag, colored alternately light yellow and red, consisting of six yellow and seven red rays. In the center of the flag, superimposed, there shall be a copper-colored five pointed star, so placed that the upper points shall be one foot from the top of the flag and the lower points one foot from the bottom of the flag. The red and blue shall be the same shade as the colors in the flag of the United States. The flag shall have a four-foot hoist and a six-foot fly, with a two-foot star and the same proportions shall be observed for flags of other sizes.
C. The flag represents the copper star of Arizona rising from a blue field in the face of a setting sun.