The Tennessee State Flag was designed by Captain LeRoy Reeves of the Third Regiment, Tennessee Infantry. Captain Reeves explained the design of his flag as follows:

“Tennessee is divided into three regions - the Tennessee River divides West Tennessee from Middle Tennessee, and East Tennessee is the area of the Smokey Mountains and east - the "Grand Divisions. The three stars are of pure white, representing the three grand divisions of the state. They are bound together by the endless circle of the blue field, the symbol being three bound together in one.... an indissoluble trinity. The large field is crimson. The final blue bar relieves the sameness of the crimson field and prevents the flag from showing too much crimson when hanging limp. The white edgings, contrast more strongly the other colors.“

This flag was adopted as the official flag of the State of Tennessee by an act of the Legislature passed and approved April 17, 1905.