August State Birthdays: Missouri, Hawaii and the Centennial State

August is a big month on the American calendar. Three states mark their statehood anniversaries between the first and the twenty-first, and one of them is our own. Colorado turned 150 on August 1. Meanwhile, Missouri marks 205 years on August 10. Hawaii, the newest state in the Union, celebrates on August 21.

So this month gives Colorado families, schools and businesses three good reasons to run something new up the pole. Whether you grew up in St. Louis, moved here from Honolulu, or have flown the blue-white-blue your whole life, statehood anniversary flags turn a date on the calendar into something the neighborhood can actually see.

At Flag World Company in Aurora, we have been helping the Front Range fly state colors since 1989. Below, you will find what each August anniversary means, what each flag actually looks like, and how to display it properly through a Colorado summer.

This guide is part of our monthly series on American statehood anniversaries. Next month brings California, admitted September 9, 1850, along with Constitution Day on September 17.

Colorado: 150 Years on August 1

Colorado entered the Union on August 1, 1876, as the 38th state. Because the nation was celebrating its own 100th birthday that year, we became the Centennial State.

This year the date carried real weight. In fact, August 1, 2026 marked the sesquicentennial — 150 years of Colorado statehood. Communities across the Front Range built festivals, museum days and civic events around it, and many of those celebrations run through the rest of the summer.

We wrote the full story separately, including the flag’s 1911 adoption, what each color represents, and a size-by-size breakdown of every Colorado flag we carry. Therefore, if the anniversary has you thinking about a proper display, start there: our Colorado 150th anniversary guide.

Missouri: 205 Years on August 10

Missouri joined the Union on August 10, 1821, as the 24th state. Its admission came through the Missouri Compromise, one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in the country’s early history.

Plenty of Colorado families trace back to Missouri. The Santa Fe and Oregon trails both started there, and a good share of the people who settled the Front Range came west through Independence and St. Joseph. So a Missouri flag in a Denver metro yard is often a family history flag, not just a novelty.

What the Missouri flag means

Missouri adopted its flag in 1913. Marie Elizabeth Oliver designed it, and the symbolism is unusually dense for a state banner.

• Three horizontal stripes — red, white and blue, echoing the national colors
• The center seal — the Missouri coat of arms, with two grizzly bears supporting a shield
• Twenty-four stars — a blue band circling the seal, one star for each state at the time Missouri became the 24th

That star count is the detail most people miss. Furthermore, it is exactly the kind of thing worth explaining to a kid standing in the yard watching it go up.

Missouri flags we carry

• Outdoor Missouri 3’x5′ 2-ply polyester — printed spun polyester with brass grommets, finished with a white header. Made in the USA
• Parade-size Missouri 4″x6″ stick flag — mounted on a black staff with a gold spear tip, ideal for parades, desks and classroom handouts
• Indoor Missouri 3’x5′ appliqued nylon — sewn nylon for lobbies and formal displays. Find it in our indoor state flags collection

Hawaii: The Newest State, August 21

Hawaii became the 50th state on August 21, 1959. Statehood Day is an official state holiday there, observed on the third Friday in August — which in 2026 lands on August 21 itself, the exact anniversary.

The Hawaii flag is the most unusual design in the Union, and it surprises people every time.

• The Union Jack in the canton — Hawaii is the only US state whose flag carries another nation’s flag, a holdover from the Kingdom of Hawaii’s relationship with Britain
• Eight horizontal stripes — white, red and blue, one for each of the eight main islands
• Officially adopted in 1845 — the design flew over the kingdom, the republic, the territory and now the state

So Hawaii’s flag is older than the state itself by more than a century. As a result, it makes a genuinely good conversation piece on a Colorado street, and a meaningful one for the metro’s Pacific Islander families.

Hawaii flags we carry

• Outdoor Hawaii 3’x5′ 2-ply polyester — printed spun polyester with brass grommets, made in the USA, and the standard outdoor size for most residential poles
• Smaller Hawaii 2’x3′ appliqued nylon — sewn nylon in a compact format, good for shorter poles, wall brackets and porch mounts

Not sure which size suits your setup? Call us at 303-623-0589 and we will match the flag to your pole.

Choosing Statehood Anniversary Flags for Colorado Conditions

Colorado is hard on flags. Between the altitude, the UV load and the wind coming off the foothills, a flag here works harder than the same flag at sea level. So material matters more than most buyers expect.

Nylon

Light, bright and fast-drying. Nylon flies in a gentle breeze, which matters on still summer mornings, and it also sheds afternoon thunderstorms quickly. Therefore, it is the right default for most Front Range homes.

Spun polyester

Heavier and tougher. Two-ply spun polyester has an open weave built to take steady wind, which makes it the better pick for exposed sites — ridgelines, open commercial lots, anywhere the breeze is constant rather than occasional. However, it needs more wind to fly well, so it is a poor choice for sheltered yards.

Sizing to your pole

The general rule is that the flag should be roughly one quarter the height of the pole. For example, a 20-foot residential pole takes a 3’x5′ or 4’x6′. Meanwhile, a 25-foot pole takes a 4’x6′ or 5’x8′. Our flag size guide walks through it in more detail, and our flag materials guide covers full fabric specifications.

Our state flags are made in the USA. In addition, our premium flag materials — Perma-Nyl, Koralex II, Nyl-Glo and Tough Tex — carry a one-year colorfast warranty against fading. Free shipping applies on orders over $129.90 (restrictions apply), and we back our pricing with a price match guarantee.

Flying a State Flag With the Stars and Stripes

Most people fly their state flag alongside the US flag, and the etiquette is straightforward.

• Same pole — the US flag goes above the state flag, always
• Adjacent poles — the US flag goes to the observer’s left, and its pole should be the same height or taller
• Raising and lowering — the US flag goes up first and comes down last
• Size — the state flag should never be larger than the US flag flown with it

Our flag etiquette guide covers half-staff, night display and weather rules, and the US Flag Code page has the full text. If you need the US flag itself, browse our American flags collection.

Also, if your pole needs work before August is out, we carry flagpoles and flagpole hardware including halyard, snaps, cleats and trucks.

Smaller Ways to Mark a Statehood Anniversary

Not every celebration needs a 20-foot pole. So for classrooms, offices, parade floats and gift-giving, we stock statehood anniversary flags in smaller formats.

• 4″x6″ stick flags — mounted on a staff with a gold spear tip, the classic parade and handout size
• Super poly state flags — also in 12″x18″, 2’x3′ and 3’x5′ for desks, float decoration and window display
• Mini banners — small hanging banners for rearview mirrors, cubicles and display stands
• Lapel pins and patches — wearable state pride for reunions, conventions and scout uniforms

Schools and districts planning an anniversary display can also look at our school and institutional flags guide.

For Businesses, Cities and Organizations

Anniversary programming is not just a residential thing. Between civic ceremonies, dealership promotions and heritage festivals, August brings a steady run of institutional orders through our Aurora shop.

We handle full state sets, city flags, and custom work. In addition, our city flags collection covers Denver and major cities nationwide, and the broader state and territory flags category includes all five inhabited US territories.

For anything beyond stock — a commemorative banner, a logo flag, a bulk set for a district — send the details through our quote request form or call the shop. Because custom flags and banners are printed to order, we will walk you through material, size and mounting before anything goes to production. Browse custom flags and banners to see what is possible.

Visit Our Aurora Showroom

Come see the flags in person. After all, there is no substitute for feeling the difference between nylon and spun polyester before you buy, and our team matches flags to pole heights every day.

Flag World Company
1270 South Abilene St, Aurora, CO 80012
Phone: 303-623-0589

Hours: Monday through Friday 9 AM to 6 PM · Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM · Sunday 11 AM to 4 PM

Frequently Asked Questions

Which states have statehood anniversaries in August?

Three states mark August anniversaries. Colorado entered the Union on August 1, 1876, Missouri on August 10, 1821, and Hawaii on August 21, 1959. Of course, Hawaii is the only one of the three that observes an official state holiday for it.

Why does the Hawaii flag have the British Union Jack on it?

The design dates to the Kingdom of Hawaii and reflects its historic relationship with Britain. Because Hawaii kept that design through the republic, territorial and statehood periods, it remains the only US state flag carrying another nation’s flag.

What do the 24 stars on the Missouri flag mean?

Missouri was the 24th state admitted to the Union. Therefore, the blue band of 24 stars circling the state coat of arms marks that position. Marie Elizabeth Oliver designed the flag, which was adopted in 1913.

Can I fly a state flag and the American flag on the same pole?

Yes. The US flag always flies above the state flag on a shared pole, and it should never be smaller than the flag beneath it. On adjacent poles, meanwhile, the US flag goes to the observer’s left.

Which flag material lasts longest in Colorado?

It depends on your site. Nylon flies well in light wind and dries fast, which suits most Front Range homes. Two-ply spun polyester, however, is heavier and more durable on exposed, consistently windy locations. Both are made in the USA, and our premium materials carry a one-year colorfast warranty against fading.

Where can I buy statehood anniversary flags in Colorado?

Flag World Company stocks statehood anniversary flags at our Aurora showroom and ships nationwide. Because stock moves quickly, call 303-623-0589 to confirm a specific state and size before you make the trip.

Do you carry state flags for every state?

We carry state flags across outdoor, indoor and super poly lines, plus all five inhabited US territories. In addition, we stock complete 50-state sets for institutional displays.

Fly Your State’s Colors This August

Statehood anniversaries are small holidays, but they are honest ones. They mark the day a place became itself. Between Colorado’s 150th, Missouri’s 205th and Hawaii’s 67th, August gives the Front Range three chances to put that on display.

Browse the state flags collection, or stop by the Aurora showroom and we will help you pick the right material for your site. Finally, call 303-623-0589 with any questions.