For its first 81 years as a state, Maine had no flag. In 1901, their first state flag was selected. It was lovely:

Regrettably, this quaint little design was replaced just a few short years later with something lousy. Since 1909, this has been the flag of the state of Maine:

It’s one of many subpar seal on a bedsheet state flags in America. With an overly complicated design that features needless text, it’s difficult to distinguish from a dozen or more similar state flags in America.

In recent years, however, a modernized version of the original state flag has been gaining popularity:

When visiting Maine, this Lone Pine beauty can be found on shirts, hats, and much more. In fact, it’s gotten so well-known that there are even riffs on it, like this delightful pin I acquired on a recent visit:

[Photo courtesy of P. Kafasis]

Now, it appears voters will have the opportunity to replace their current middling-at-best flag with the Lone Pine. The process described here has been convoluted as all get out, but come November, it appears Maine has a shot at upgrading their flag. Here’s hoping they seize it.