Washington Flag Status — Is the Flag at Half-Staff Today?
The current status could not be loaded just now. The national status is on the main flag page.
Who lowers the flag in Washington
In Washington, flag orders are issued as numbered directives — signed, sequentially numbered documents published by the Governor’s office under official actions. That is distinctive: Washington maintains a formal, citable record of every lowering rather than a page of prose, so a Washington order can be referred to by its number and the archive is unusually complete.
The flag of Washington
A dark green field carries a circular portrait of George Washington in gold — the only U.S. state flag to feature a state-name founder’s likeness.
Washington on the American flag
Washington’s star joined the national flag on July 4, 1890 — the Fourth of July after admission, as the Flag Act of 1818 provides.
Sunrise and sunset in Olympia
The flag is raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset. Today at the state capital:
How Washington became a state
Washington Territory was organized in 1853 from the northern half of Oregon Territory. The state was admitted on November 11, 1889 as the 42nd state — the only state named for a U.S. president — and its Puget Sound region grew into a Pacific gateway for aerospace, software, and global trade.
Admitted November 11, 1889 — the 42nd state.
Washington at a glance
Did you know
- Washington produces about two-thirds of all U.S. apples.
- It is the only U.S. state named after a U.S. president.
- Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous 48 states.
- Washington has no state income tax.
Born or raised here: Bill Gates (Microsoft co-founder; Seattle) · Jeff Bezos (Amazon founder; longtime Seattle area) · Jimi Hendrix (musician; Seattle) · Bruce Lee (martial artist; Seattle) · Bing Crosby (singer; Tacoma) · Kurt Cobain (musician; Aberdeen)
Washington in the American Record
Moments from the daily edition that happened in Washington.
Official source
Orders are announced by the Governor’s office.
Common questions.
Is the flag at half-staff in Washington today?+
The status above answers that for today. A national half-staff order applies in Washington as it does everywhere else; the Governor can also lower flags within the state independently.
Who orders flags to half-staff in Washington?+
In Washington, flag orders are issued as numbered directives — signed, sequentially numbered documents published by the Governor’s office under official actions. That is distinctive: Washington maintains a formal, citable record of every lowering rather than a page of prose, so a Washington order can be referred to by its number and the archive is unusually complete.
Does a county order mean the whole of Washington lowers its flags?+
No. A county or single-facility order (the State Capitol, for instance) applies only where it says it does. This page shows those separately from the statewide status precisely so the two are never confused — if the status above reads full-staff, Washington has no statewide order in effect regardless of any local one.
When should the flag be raised and lowered in Washington?+
The flag flies from sunrise to sunset. Today at the state capital, Olympia, those times are shown above. On the final day of a half-staff order that runs "until sunset", the flag returns to full height at the local sunset — which is why the West Coast stays lowered a few hours after the East.
Flag status for every state, and the day in American history — one page, every morning.
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